Wrist & hand decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, including an examination to address whether it is at least as likely as not that the condition had its onset during active duty or if it qualifies as a disease of the nervous system.

The Board found no current right wrist disability and denied service connection for a right wrist condition, concluding that the Veteran's symptoms were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's right and left carpal tunnel syndrome were granted service connection, with a 10% rating assigned. The left elbow disorder was also granted service connection.

The Board denied service connection for myofascial pain syndrome and right wrist disability (carpal tunnel syndrome) as there is no competent evidence of an in-service injury or event.

The Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome is rated at a 30 percent evaluation for the entire appeal period, but no higher.

The Board finds that the reduction of the rating for right cubital tunnel syndrome from 10% to noncompensable effective December 10, 2011 was proper at the time. The Veteran's other disabilities were recharacterized and assigned more favorable evaluations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause his death. The appellant is seeking DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, but the criteria for this benefit have not been met as the Veteran was not rated at a 100% disability level continuously for at least ten years immediately preceding his death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo, bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, sleep apnea, left knee disorder, and carpal tunnel syndrome were denied. The Veteran's claim for TDIU was added to the issues on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and a compensable rating for his right shoulder disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examination. His stomach disorder and right wrist disability claims remain pending.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's current bilateral CTS is related to active military service. As the reasonable doubt created by this relative equipoise in the evidence must be resolved in favor of the Veteran, entitlement to service connection for bilateral CTS is granted.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to incomplete information and need for additional development, including an addendum opinion considering the Veteran's current enrollment in a vocational rehabilitation program.

The Veteran's appeal of the right wrist disability claim has been withdrawn. The left foot disability issue is being remanded for additional development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome met the criteria for a 40 percent disability rating from June 18, 2009, to March 23, 2016. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether the right and left carpal tunnel syndromes were manifested by moderate incomplete paralysis of the lower radicular group during this period.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left wrist disability is being remanded due to the need for further development, including an examination by a medical doctor who has not previously examined him in conjunction with this claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine, left shoulder, right wrist, and bilateral knee disabilities are not related to service.,Regarding GERD and hiatal hernia, the evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a left wrist disability and erectile dysfunction, finding no evidence of current disabilities or a causal relationship to service-connected conditions.,Specifically, the Veteran's left wrist degenerative joint disease was not found to be proximately due to his service-connected right wrist condition. His erectile dysfunction was also not found to be caused by medications for his service-connected migraines and other conditions.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, left knee disability, allergies, and tinnitus have all been granted. The conditions are found to be related to service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent prior to September 29, 2016 and at 40 percent thereafter. His left shoulder disability was rated at 20 percent prior to September 29, 2016 and at 30 percent thereafter for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist. The Veteran's claims were denied as his conditions did not warrant higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and updated treatment records. The right wrist disability, including any associated neurological manifestations, will be evaluated.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of current disability for these conditions as defined by VA standards. For his right hand condition with carpal tunnel, the Board finds in favor of the Veteran based on credible lay statements regarding the onset and continuity of symptoms since service.