Wrist & hand decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left wrist disability and consideration of extraschedular rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address whether the Veteran's arthritis of multiple joints is related to his service-connected disabilities, specifically his right shoulder, left ankle, back, or knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that his combined disability rating of at least 70 percent with one disability rated at least 40 percent is sufficient to grant TDIU.

The Veteran's tinnitus is presumed to have been incurred in service due to noise exposure during deployment.,Regarding the left carpal tunnel syndrome and numbness, the appeal remains pending as additional evidence and medical opinions are needed. The Veteran has not provided sufficient evidence or credible testimony to establish a direct link between his current condition and military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left tibia fracture, status post pinning is not service-connected as there is no evidence of a current disability related to his active duty service or to his service-connected left ulnar neuropathy. The right elbow condition and carpal tunnel syndromes are also not service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a lack of consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding his right wrist ganglion cyst and its progression during service.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left carpal tunnel syndromes were not incurred during service or related to any service-connected condition, thus denying her claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's Cesarean section scar, right wrist condition, and irritable bowel syndrome with constipation are not service-connected due to lack of in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records from October 1957 to December 1957 and requesting SGO records related to the Veteran's service.

The Board finds that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's right and left carpal tunnel syndrome/median nerve disabilities were incurred as a result of his duties during active service, warranting service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left leg disability, a right shoulder disability, and a right arm neurological disability. The Board found no current disabilities and insufficient evidence to support any diagnoses.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease was granted a rating of 60 percent effective June 20, 2012. The Veteran is not entitled to higher ratings for his other conditions.

The Veteran's service connection for left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, posttraumatic stress disorder and depression (PTSD), and right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome has been granted.,Initial ratings of 30 percent, 50 percent, 20 percent, and 40 percent have been assigned for PTSD, carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity, respectively.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's generalized joint disease (to include the elbows, wrists, knees, feet, and hands) is not related to her active duty service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral wrist disability, including ganglion cysts, chronic strain, and carpal tunnel syndrome, was incurred in or is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his left upper extremity neurological disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left arm condition, including his left hand, wrist, and shoulder, is not related to a period of service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the VA examination report and for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and considering whether the Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome should be evaluated under Diagnostic Code 8512.

The Board found that the Veteran's left wrist sprain status post left wrist surgery with surgical scar is manifested by pain and limitation of motion, but no evidence of ankylosis or muscle atrophy. The disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on ankylosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.