Wrist & hand decisions — 2016

The Veteran's combined rating for right wrist injury residuals, including osteoarthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome, was granted at a 70 percent level effective February 2, 2015. The appeal as to the separate rating for carpal tunnel syndrome has been withdrawn.

The Board found that the Veteran does not currently have backpackers' palsy (left brachial plexus injury) and his current peripheral nerve disability of the left upper extremity is due to carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and ulnar neuropathy, which are not attributable to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, a back injury, and a psychiatric disability. The Veteran's statements regarding these conditions are considered insufficient to establish service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to determine the severity of his right wrist residuals and whether he requires regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral upper extremity conditions are not related to his military service and are less likely than not caused or aggravated by any service-connected condition, including his non-service connected back disorder. As a result, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The claim to reopen a disability manifested by fatigue (undiagnosed illness) was not supported by new and material evidence, while the claim to reopen a disability manifested by joint aches (undiagnosed illness) was supported by such evidence.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various orthopedic disabilities, are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between his active service and these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability and right wrist disability are being remanded due to outstanding private and VA treatment records, as well as the need for an addendum opinion from the September 2014 VA examiner.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to review these claims.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date and increased evaluation for left wrist arthritis was denied. The Board found that the earliest indication of a desire to file a claim for left wrist disability was in April 2005, which is when service connection was granted. The Veteran does not meet criteria for ankylosis or loss of use of the hand, so higher ratings are not warranted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional records and a VA examination.

The Board found no evidence of a left shoulder disability during service and determined that the current left shoulder disability is not related to service. The hypertension, elbow, wrist, back, radiculopathy, erectile dysfunction, and psychiatric disabilities were also denied as not related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for SMC based on Housebound criteria, but found that he was entitled to SMC at the housebound rate from February 25, 2004, to March 31, 2004, and March 21, 2007, to April 30, 2007.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected right and left knee disabilities and any left wrist disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses for several of his claimed conditions, and thus service connection cannot be granted. The claims are denied.

The Board denied service connection for right hand and left hand disorders due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain Social Security Administration records, service personnel records, and VA treatment records. The claims will also be reviewed by a VA examiner regarding the relationship between his wrist disability and HIV infection.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for service-connected conjunctivitis has been withdrawn. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and address the issues of hypertension, fatigue, headache disorder, and other claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded to allow for extraschedular consideration of his service-connected right wrist disability, right upper extremity neuropathy, and the combined impact of all disabilities. The case will be returned to the Board after further development.