Wrist & hand decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back condition and other conditions like sleep apnea, hypertension, and carpal tunnel syndrome, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for her right wrist condition is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional development of medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability is related to his military service, while his bilateral wrist disability is not shown to be due to a disease or injury incurred in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left wrist disability, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not show ankylosis or neurological impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right wrist disability does not warrant an extraschedular evaluation, as the symptoms are adequately addressed by the current rating schedule.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and bilateral wrist conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including right foot disorder, left foot disorder, left hand disorder, right wrist disorder, left wrist disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, neck disorder, eye disorder, lung disorder, and knee disorders. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy with carpal tunnel syndrome, to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, and for a TDIU. The decision found that there was no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service or presumed Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and right shoulder disorder are not service-connected as they are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's left wrist and middle finger disabilities have been evaluated based on their respective limitations of motion, with no evidence of ankylosis or functional impairment equivalent to amputation.,Both conditions are currently rated at the maximum available under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate examination reports and incomplete medical records.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a left wrist disability and denied service connection for bilateral wrist disabilities. The Board also found that the Veteran has tinnitus that is at least as likely as not incurred in service, granted service connection for tinnitus. Service connection was denied for bilateral plantar warts and neck disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and bilateral upper extremity, carpal tunnel syndrome as there is no probative evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and TDIU were denied. The initial evaluation of the left wrist disability was upheld at 10 percent, while a temporary 100 percent evaluation from May 20, 2014, to July 1, 2014, for her trigger thumb release surgery convalescence was granted and then reduced to noncompensable. The Veteran's claim for TDIU on an extraschedular basis is pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no current evidence of the claimed disabilities. The claim for residuals of a metacarpal fracture was granted.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been withdrawn. The Board has dismissed the appeals as they are no longer in contention.

The Veteran's claim for left carpal tunnel syndrome was denied as there is no evidence of current disability.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction was found to not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, right wrist disability, cervical spine disability, and bilateral knee disability. The reasons provided include lack of a nexus to service or evidence of continuity of symptoms.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are service-connected. The claim for hypertension is granted, but a rating assignment is pending as there was no current disability found at the time of examination.