Wrist & hand decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and inadequate examination. The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral knee, right wrist/hand, and right ankle disorders are being returned for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the bilateral hips and shoulders, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to in-service parachute jumps. However, the Board denied service connection for arthritis of the bilateral wrists and elbows due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection was granted for arthritis of the bilateral hips and shoulders based on a positive nexus opinion from Dr. R.F.K., who noted that the Veteran's in-service parachute jumps could have set the stage for his declining musculoskeletal health.

The Veteran's low back disability is not service-connected, but his left wrist disability warrants a 10% rating prior to November 23, 2015 and remains at 10% thereafter.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have met the schedular criteria for TDIU from March 25, 2005 to April 1, 2008 and since April 1, 2013. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination in December 2011, which did not address whether the in-service left ganglion cyst could cause the later development of carpal tunnel syndrome. The Veteran is required to provide another medical opinion regarding this issue.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left wrist peripheral neuropathy prior to October 17, 2016 are being remanded due to inadequate consideration of relevant medical evidence. The Board will provide a new VA examination to address the clinical significance of this evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection are being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and to schedule a new VA examination.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded to obtain an opinion regarding the etiology of his current diagnosis.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for sarcoidosis is being remanded to obtain an opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his diagnosed condition.

The Veteran's service-connected right wrist disability does not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are sufficiently severe to inhibit his ability to obtain gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule a VA examination for hearing loss and tinnitus. The issues of service connection are still under consideration.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied in May 1979 due to the RO's incorrect application of the law, specifically regarding the use of 'permanently' in determining unemployability. The Board found that the correct facts were not considered and that there was clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and opinion regarding his service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity and residuals of ganglion cyst. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, as well as his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for various knee and ankle conditions, as well as a wrist injury. The Board found that the evidence supported these findings.

The Veteran is precluded from substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches and hypothyroidism. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether he is entitled to TDIU.

The Veteran was service-connected for PTSD, a left wrist fracture, and a right hand fracture prior to December 16, 2007. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation during this period.

The Board found that the Veteran's right hip, right knee, and left wrist disorders are not related to service or a service-connected disability. The hypertension was rated at 10% but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current right or left carpal tunnel syndrome, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to her active service. The preponderance of the evidence supports a finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not manifest during service or are otherwise related to her military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides and/or chemicals. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.