Wrist & hand decisions — 2017

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40% and the Board finds that a higher rating is warranted for this condition. The Veteran was also granted service connection for Hepatitis C, an upper back disorder as secondary to degenerative disc disease (DDD), and upper extremity pain as secondary to a service connected right wrist disability.

The Board finds that the Appellant's lumbar spine disorder and bilateral hand neurological disorders are not related to his service, as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during service or continuity of symptomatology after service. The VA examiners concluded that these conditions were less likely caused by or aggravated by military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. The decision also denied entitlement to SMC at the housebound rate as there was no single disability rated as 100% disabling or a TDIU rating based on multiple disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unemployable due to their combined effect, as his overall disability rating is at least 70% and he has the ability to perform substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hand disability, including arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome, is not related to his service or secondary to his service-connected residuals of a tear of the collateral ligament of the left thumb and associated degenerative disease of the left thumb. As such, he was denied service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for further action, including scheduling a Board videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, or for adaptive equipment only.

The Veteran's application for a total disability rating based on individual employability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities was granted effective May 6, 1994. The Board found that the evidence supported the conclusion that the Veteran was unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left wrist injury, including arthritis and a ganglion cyst. The evidence does not support a link between current conditions and active service.

The Board has granted an extension of the temporary total rating based on post-surgical convalescence for the Veteran's left wrist disability from November 1, 2007 through April 16, 2008.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the claims of service connection for sleep apnea and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for his right wrist condition, finding that it is due to an undiagnosed illness and not related to any known clinical diagnosis.

The Veteran is granted service connection for a right wrist disorder of sclerosis of the scaphoid, bilateral foot disorders (DJD and hallux rigidus), obstructive sleep apnea, and IBS as due to a qualifying chronic disability.,Reasoning: The evidence shows that the Veteran experienced symptoms during service and has current diagnoses related to these conditions. The criteria for presumptive service connection are met.

The Veteran was granted service connection for left wrist degenerative joint disease and assigned a 10 percent rating, effective March 8, 2007.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back and right wrist disorders are not related to his service, including National Guard service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining complete VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations to assess the current severity of his disabilities. The Veteran must also be scheduled for a new examination before service connection can be decided on the merits for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left hand and a disorder of the index finger of the left hand, diagnosed as trigger finger. The VA examiner found that these conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's left wrist DJD was granted an increased rating to 20 percent effective March 22, 2004. The earlier stage of the increased rating (prior to March 22, 2004) remains in appellate status.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable due to his inability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the Veteran's right wrist disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent. The Veteran is service-connected for carpal tunnel syndrome, lumbosacral strain, and bilateral hearing loss, but his combined rating is only 60%. His service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.