Wrist & hand decisions — 2017

The Board found that the Veteran's current right hand disorders (degenerative joint disease and carpal tunnel syndrome) are not related to his service, including an in-service injury. The preponderance of evidence is against a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent rating, but no higher. The Board finds the Veteran entitled to at least a 70 percent rating for his PTSD.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to increased ratings and service connection.,The Veteran also withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent for IBS and GERD, chronic fatigue syndrome, allergic skin reaction, insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, migraines, respiratory disability, nerve entrapment (left elbow), and radiating pain to the left wrist (ulnar entrapment).

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a right wrist, hand, or thumb disability has been reopened. The appeal is mixed as the Veteran was granted an increased rating for PTSD but denied service connection for his claimed wrist condition.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder strain, right wrist strain, and right ankle strain are related to his military service.,Service connection is granted for a right shoulder condition/right shoulder strain, a right wrist condition/right wrist sprain, and a right ankle condition/right ankle strain.

The Veteran's service-connected right wrist condition, post-carpal tunnel release surgery, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his symptoms do not warrant more than mild incomplete paralysis of the median nerve.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis are proximately due to his service-connected left elbow strain with olecranon spur, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and is not proximately due to a service-connected disability. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Veteran does not have established right ulnar or shoulder disability, and the Board finds no evidence of such disabilities during service. Right wrist CTS is established.,Right cervical spine disability has not been established as incurred in service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, nerve condition in the left arm to include in the left wrist, bilateral shoulder disability, and bilateral knee disability were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service-connected healed scar on the left wrist is currently rated at 10 percent, and a higher rating is denied as there are no additional disabling effects not already covered by the current rating.

The Board has granted service connection for right wrist arthritis and denied service connection for residuals of a human bite to the right hand/wrist, including HIV, as well as left shoulder disorder. The cervical spine disorder claim is not before the Board.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent effective February 4, 2015. The cervical spine disability is rated at 50 percent effective that date.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of right ear hearing loss for VA purposes.,There is no competent evidence linking the current left wrist strain to service.

The Board has determined that the November 18, 2008 rating decision contained clear and unmistakable error in failing to assign a separate 20 percent evaluation for residuals of gunshot wound, Muscle Group XX. The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease with peritoneal adhesions is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's hypertension, migraines, and other service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating or extraschedular evaluation. The Board denied his claim of entitlement to TDIU prior to September 10, 2010.

The Board found that the Veteran's scar on back of left hand and burn scar on left wrist were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claims for headaches, hypertension, and bilateral knee condition are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left wrist disability is not related to service and arthritis did not manifest within a year of discharge. As such, the claim for service connection for a left wrist disability is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for CTS of the right and left upper extremities, as well as hypertension, were denied. The conditions are currently rated at their lowest possible non-compensable levels.