Wrist & hand decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a need for an addendum to the VA examination.

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's lower back strain, which is the maximum available under the applicable criteria. The Veteran's left wrist disability remains at a 10 percent evaluation as there is no evidence of ankylosis or other conditions that would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU has been granted because his service-connected disabilities render him unemployable.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increase ratings on the issues of left hand weakness, left wrist fracture residuals, left shoulder DJD residuals and left hip arthritis prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's TBI was found to be related to service, and he is now granted service connection for a traumatic brain injury.

The Veteran's post-operative residuals of a right wrist fracture and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine are currently rated at 10 percent each, with no higher ratings granted. The RO found that the current evaluations adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Board has granted a clothing allowance for the year 2014 due to wear and tear on the Veteran's clothing caused by his service-connected knee braces and wrist splints, despite the VAMC finding that there were no exposed metal or plastic inserts in the braces.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine, low back, right and left carpal tunnel syndrome, and right knee disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is not service connected as it is not related to his in-service exposure to toxic chemicals, and the claim must be denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including ulnar nerve entrapment, knee disabilities, shoulder disability, neck disability, pes planus, foot neuroma, and carpal tunnel syndrome. The reduction in evaluation for DDD of the lumbar spine was also found to be improper.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new VA examinations for his claimed bilateral wrist/hand disabilities and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for a right wrist disability, but denied service connection for a back disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new examination to determine the severity of his service-connected right wrist disabilities and scar.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted service connection. The left wrist disability is rated at 10% and the low back pain is increased to 10%. These ratings are effective as of February 9, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining any missing records. The issues of rating his service-connected right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome are being addressed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected low back disability and CTS of the right arm are both granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's left wrist, left elbow, low back, and bilateral knee conditions are not causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service.,Service connection was denied for all claimed conditions.

The Veteran's Cesarean section scars are rated as 10 percent disabling. Service connection is granted for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and hearing loss, with the latter being assigned a non-compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was denied. The Board has now referred the case back to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective May 2016. The Board also dismissed the issues of service connection for a right shoulder disability and bilateral hearing loss as they were withdrawn by the Veteran.