Wrist & hand decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need for updated treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of June 28, 2011 for a 60% disability rating for ulcerative colitis is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's symptoms more nearly approximate the criteria consistent with a 60% disability rating from the date of original diagnosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left wrist disorder is not related to his military service and instead is more likely due to his job in servicing trucks. As a result, the claim for service connection for a left wrist disorder is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to his active service and grants this claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left wrist disorder related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection. The TDIU claim was also denied as there are no service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left wrist disability was denied because he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The Veteran's donor site scar is rated at 10% and his right wrist ankylosis with degenerative joint disease was granted a 70% rating prior to May 17, 2016. From that date, the Veteran's claim for a higher rating remains denied.,A mixed decision has been reached as some issues were granted (donor site scar and right wrist ankylosis) while others remain denied.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his service-connected left wrist disorder did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent prior to October 24, 2013 and in excess of 40 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased rating for postoperative right carpal tunnel syndrome has been remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's sinus condition has been rated at 10 percent prior to July 13, 2011 and increased to 30 percent thereafter. The Veteran is also entitled to a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board finds that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for the right wrist disability, including carpal tunnel syndrome. The Veteran's current symptoms are more likely related to repetitive motion and not an in-service injury.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination and adjudicating the issues of an increased evaluation and TDIU.

The Veteran's anal fissure, status post left lateral internal sphincterectomy, was granted a noncompensable evaluation and later increased to 10 percent effective from May 14, 2009. The Board is remanding the issue of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for anal fissure.,The Veteran's left wrist disorder, right wrist disorder, and low back disorder were not found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left wrist disability is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to confusion in the issue and need for a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's tenosynovitis arose in service, and grants her claim for service connection for bilateral tenosynovitis of the wrists.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied as her service-connected conditions did not meet the statutory criteria for these benefits.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's preexisting left wrist disorder was aggravated by his service. The Veteran is also asked to clarify which specific federal medical facility at the Pentagon he received treatment from.

The Board has granted a dependency allowance for the Veteran's dependent spouse, K.M.V., and has reopened several previously denied claims of service connection.