Wrist & hand decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left carpal tunnel syndromes do not warrant ratings in excess of 30 percent or 20 percent, respectively. The symptoms are characterized by intermittent numbness, paresthesia, decreased grip strength, and pain radiating to the elbows and shoulders.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral wrists, including carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), tenosynovitis of the right wrist and triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) tear with ganglion cyst of the right wrist is being remanded due to additional development needed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a rescheduled hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's left hand disability, including crush injuries to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd digits, is rated at 10 percent each. A separate noncompensable rating for a scar on the 2nd digit of the left hand has also been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including panic disorder and stress urinary incontinence, have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed neurological disability, and therefore, service connection for her claimed left wrist disorder is denied.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence regarding the Veteran's left arm, wrist, and hand disability. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination of his right wrist disability, as well as issuance of a Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board has remanded the case due to a scheduling error for a videoconference hearing. The Veteran's address was not updated, and she did not appear for her scheduled hearing.

The Veteran is seeking compensation benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional right wrist disability due to VA surgical treatment in June 2010 at the VAMC in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Board has determined that further development is needed and remands the case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disorder did not manifest during service and was not caused by any in-service disease, injury, or event. The Veteran's ganglion cyst of the right wrist is characterized by dorsiflexion of greater than 15 degrees and plantar flexion not limited in line with the forearm.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from engaging in all work during the time period under review, as demonstrated by the disability ratings assigned prior to February 24, 2009. The Board denied entitlement to TDIU for that period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a video hearing before a Veterans Law Judge due to the failure to provide such an opportunity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's upper extremity neurological disability, including carpal tunnel syndrome, is a result of his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's left wrist disability, which includes a fracture of the ulnar styloid process, does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran did not suffer additional disability as a result of the September 2006 VA hernia surgery, and the Board finds that his neurological problems were not caused by this surgery.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral upper extremity disability, including osteoarthritis of the hands, wrists, and shoulders, right lateral epicondylitis (right elbow tendonitis), and right elbow tendonitis, is not related to service. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable schedular criteria.

The Veteran's daughter is seeking various ratings and service connection for multiple conditions, but the appeal has been remanded due to scheduling issues.