Wrist & hand decisions — 2017

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II and type I diabetes, bilateral hand disability, low back disability, right knee disability, right hip disability, bilateral wrist disability, and neurological disorder of the lower extremities have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or a link between these conditions and service. The Veteran's claims for increased rating for onychomycosis and dental disorder are dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for antral gastritis and depression, but denied service connection for a bilateral wrist condition. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is considered secondary to his service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's right wrist, ankle, and knee disabilities are found to be related to service. Her acquired psychiatric disorder is also found to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's joint and nerve pain is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected HIV, and therefore, denied all claims for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder and left forearm disorders are granted service connection based on continuity of symptoms since service. The Veteran is also awarded a 30% disability rating for his service-connected left shoulder disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating in any of the issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA examination and additional development of evidence, as the current examination did not address all theories of entitlement and relevant evidence.

The Veteran's left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, cervical spine DDD, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome with partial ACL tear are found to have their onset in service. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have all been denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,There is no indication that any exposure basis (e.g., burn pit, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune) played a role in the development of any of these conditions.

The Board denied reopening the Veteran's claim for service connection for a head injury and found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The right wrist disability was also denied, with no rating assigned.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a chronic chest injury disability and service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome is granted as it was of in-service onset.

The Board found that the Veteran's left CTS did not have its onset during active service or as a result of active service, and it was not caused by or aggravated by service-connected shell fragment wound to the right elbow and forearm or residuals of right median nerve laceration.

The Board has granted service connection for left arm disorder and right hand/arm carpal tunnel syndrome, with a rating of 30 percent effective from April 24, 1997.

The Board has granted service connection for a left wrist disability, a low back disability, and a bilateral hip disability.,All reasonable doubts have been resolved in favor of the Veteran regarding her current disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected left carpal tunnel syndrome and calcium chip-like deposits in the elbows are rated at 20% and 10%, respectively, prior to April 20, 2017. The Board denied higher ratings for these conditions.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's left wrist disability, finding no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis and concluding that the current range of motion findings do not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board found no evidence of a right shoulder disability, headaches, sleep apnea, tinnitus, right hand disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, back disability, neuropathy, allergies, arthritis, or erectile dysfunction that were incurred in service. The Veteran's current conditions are not presumed to have been incurred due to the lack of showing within one year post-service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have residuals of a head injury/TBI, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied. The remaining claims regarding increased ratings for left wrist ganglionectomy and fractures of the fourth metacarpal of the left hand are also addressed.