Wrist & hand decisions — 2017

The Veteran's left-hand (non-dominant) dorso-ulnar sensory cutaneous neuropathy and shell fragment wound of the left hand, wrist, and forearm Muscle Group IX and VIII have been granted increased ratings. The Veteran is now rated at 30 percent for his left-hand (non-dominant) condition and 20 percent for his shell fragment wound.

The Veteran's lumbar and neck conditions have been granted service connection.,Increased ratings for CTS in both upper extremities are granted, with the right hand receiving a 30 percent rating effective February 18, 2016, and the left hand receiving a 20 percent rating from that date forward. The Veteran's loss of sense of taste is now rated as compensable.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been increased to 10 percent disabling since April 13, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for an updated VA examination and opinion regarding her employability, as well as obtaining recent VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right wrist disability, to include chronic wrist sprain and strain, was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left shoulder, left wrist, or right wrist disabilities. The evidence does not support service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension and right hand CTS were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of such during his active duty. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claims for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand this case for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity.

The Veteran's left wrist sprain is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has found that her symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's combined disability rating has been consistently at 80 percent since March 9, 2006. The Board finds that the criteria for a higher rating have not been met.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left wrist condition is not related to any event or injury during service, and thus does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for a service-connected right wrist disability prior to December 1, 2015, excluding periods of temporary total evaluation; in excess of 40 percent from December 1, 2015 to May 12, 2016; and in excess of 70 percent thereafter.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left wrist or right ankle disabilities, and therefore service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Veteran's right wrist disability with degenerative joint disease has been rated at 10 percent since February 2010. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's residuals of a left wrist fracture have not been manifested by unfavorable ankylosis, and therefore do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and providing an addendum opinion regarding service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right ankle disability was denied. The Board found that the current 40 percent evaluation adequately reflects the severity of his service-connected condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder and bilateral carpal tunnel disabilities are not related to service or a service-connected disability. The claim for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's left wrist disability has been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent since September 2006. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted prior to December 7, 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for her service-connected lumbar spine disability, bilateral shoulder disabilities, cervical spine disability, and upper extremity neurological impairments. The evaluation for DDD of the lumbar spine was found to be inadequate prior to June 21, 2016.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability and right carpal tunnel syndrome did not have its onset during service or are otherwise related to service. The claims for these conditions were denied.