Wrist & hand decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for hypertension and entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, as well as his claims for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome of the wrists and right and left knee disorders. The AOJ is instructed to schedule a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge and obtain relevant medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right wrist disability and therefore cannot establish service connection for this condition.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if referral for an extraschedular evaluation under 38 C.F.R. � 3.321(b) is warranted for the Veteran's service-connected right wrist arthritis based on its impact on his disability picture and whether it renders the current schedular rating inadequate.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral wrist disability, specifically left and right wrist scapholunate ligament injuries post arthroscopy, does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent throughout the period on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected right wrist disability and obtaining updated medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities make him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that he meets the schedular requirements for a TDIU.

The Veteran is entitled to VA nonservice-connected pension benefits from April 1, 2008 due to his inability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment by reasons of his disabilities.

The Board found that a disability of the right upper extremity, including right carpal tunnel syndrome, was not incurred or caused by an in-service injury, event, or illness and was not permanently worsened as a result of a service-connected disability. The preponderance of evidence does not support the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to care for herself without requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of left knee disability and granted it. The Veteran's current left knee disability is found to be related to parachute jumps during service, resolving doubt in his favor. For the left wrist disability, the Board finds that the fracture documented in service was likely causally significant, granting service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issues of a rating in excess of 40 percent for right wrist disability and entitlement to TDIU are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a left wrist disability and remanded the issue of an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Court vacated and remanded the claim for service connection for a left wrist disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Veteran was not granted any new or additional benefits.

The Veteran's cervical degenerative joint disease has been rated at 20 percent since January 6, 2009. The Board found that the disability did not meet criteria for a higher rating prior to this date.

The Veteran's left wrist disability, including a fracture and associated scars, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board found no basis to grant a higher rating as the evidence did not show ankylosis or other factors warranting a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist and hand disorders. This includes obtaining medical records, clarifying diagnoses, and determining if any preexisting conditions were aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's left wrist disability, characterized by pain and limited motion, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed cervical spine, back, left knee, and right wrist disorders did not have their onset during active duty service or are related to such service. The Veteran's headaches were also not linked to his military service.

The Veteran's left wrist disability has been rated as 10 percent disabling since February 4, 2003. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating or entitlement to TDIU based on this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his conditions do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.