Wrist & hand decisions — 2017

The Veteran's left wrist disability is rated at the maximum allowable under current criteria, and he does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The claims for PTSD and migraine headaches are granted with initial ratings of 30 percent each.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to verify his exposure to herbicides in Korea and to schedule VA examinations for the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for new VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected left wrist and low back disabilities.

The Veteran's right wrist condition, including her de Quervain's tenosynovitis and arthritis, is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 80 percent, which meets the criteria for a TDIU. However, the evidence does not support a finding that his service-connected disabilities render him incapable of securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not cause unemployability, and the Board finds that TDIU is not warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for depression on a secondary basis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and lower extremity neuropathy. The Veteran's back condition is rated at 20 percent. TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is found to be related to his service. The right wrist disability claim has been granted.

The Veteran's wrist condition warrants a 10 percent rating from its inception, with the Board finding that she suffered from limitation of motion in her wrist prior to April 9, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar degenerative disc disease, posttraumatic stress disorder, cervical disc disease status post laminectomy and discectomy, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, malaria, tinea pedis with traumatized nails, and amebic dysentery, are reasonably shown to be of such nature and severity as to prevent him from maintaining substantially gainful employment. Therefore, a TDIU rating is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus has been reopened and granted. His right wrist disability is rated at the maximum allowable under current criteria, and his TDIU claim remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine strain and right wrist conditions, as well as a claim for TDIU. The AOJ is instructed to arrange for VA examinations to obtain information about the severity of these disabilities and to ensure that all pertinent records are obtained.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that this rating adequately reflects his functional impairment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left wrist disability and a compensable rating for his left wrist scar, as the preponderance of the evidence is against these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to address the Veteran's claims of service connection, increased ratings, and a compensable evaluation for his skin condition.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, chronic right arm rotator cuff disability, degenerative joint disease of the right elbow, and right hand carpal tunnel syndrome contributed substantially in bringing about his death. Service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his service-connected conditions do not warrant a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's right wrist disability, characterized by fusion of the wrist in a position other than in 20 to 30 degrees of dorsiflexion, warrants a 40 percent rating on a schedular basis from June 1, 2009 through November 16, 2010, and from September 1, 2011.