Wrist & hand decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed stomach, shoulder, elbow, hip, wrist, knee, and asthma disorders are not etiologically related to his active duty service, including service during the Persian Gulf War. As a result, these claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran withdrew his claims of increased ratings and new service connection for various disabilities, including cervical spine, nasal disability, wrist carpal tunnel syndromes, bilateral hip disorder, and facet syndrome.

The Veteran's service-connected ganglion cyst of the left wrist has been rated at 10 percent since January 19, 2010.,The Board also granted a separate 10 percent rating for limitation of motion under DC 5215.

The Veteran's left wrist carpal boss disability has been rated at 10 percent since March 21, 2011. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for any period of time.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected conditions have not warranted an increased rating in any of the issues on appeal.

The Veteran is granted service connection for a retained metallic fragment in his left wrist, but denied service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome and De Quervain's tenosynovitis as secondary to the service-connected scar. The case is remanded for further development regarding entitlement to TDIU benefits.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current left wrist and right shoulder disabilities to his time in service.,The preponderance of the evidence is against the claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to address her fatigue and any related conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with her education and experience prior to July 31, 2009.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal as his substantive appeal was not filed within the required time limits.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and lumbar degenerative changes, collectively preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a left shoulder disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's right upper extremity disability, including cerebrovascular accident with right side hemiparesis and carpal tunnel syndrome right wrist, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral knee, ankle, hand, and wrist disabilities are not related to his military service or any service-connected disability. The evidence does not establish a nexus between these conditions and active duty.

The Board found that none of the Veteran's claimed conditions are related to his service as an ART in the Air Force Reserve, and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for higher levels of SMC based on service-connected disabilities was denied as his conditions do not meet the legal criteria for such benefits.

The Veteran's left wrist arthritis is rated at 10 percent, and his low back disability prior to September 19, 2016, was also rated at 10 percent. The Veteran's TDIU claim has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure of a scheduled hearing before a Veterans Law Judge sitting at the RO. The case will be returned for further action.