Wrist & hand decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for left knee, thumb, and ring finger disabilities as well as residuals of a left wrist fracture. The decision also noted that the Veteran's current left wrist disorder was not shown to be related to his service-connected right knee or left ankle conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU due to a lack of an adequate VA examination report concerning his right wrist disability. The Veteran is required to participate in a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine the current severity of service-connected PTSD, TBI, left wrist condition, left knee condition, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations are also being remanded.

The Veteran's right wrist condition, hammertoe of the left foot, and bilateral hearing loss have been remanded for further review. The service connection claims for these conditions are pending.

The Board denied service connection for cold residuals of the bilateral upper extremities as there was no evidence to support a diagnosis related to exposure to cold.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased evaluations have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's appeals for asthma, internal hemorrhoids, left and right carpal tunnel syndrome, cervical spine condition, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine disability have been dismissed. The case is remanded for further examination on the issue of service connection for a cervical spine condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating.,The Veteran's service connection claims for left arm condition, COPD, bilateral lung nodules, left thyroid mass, and carpal tunnel syndrome of the left hand are pending as they require verification of herbicide agent exposure during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome and granted a rating of 30 percent for his service-connected eczema. The TDIU claim was also granted.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left leg condition, kidney disease, and bilateral wrist disability due to lack of current diagnoses. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right wrist disability, including a fracture of the distal radius and ulnar, is currently rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5215. The Board found that the evidence does not support an increase in rating due to lack of favorable or unfavorable ankylosis.

The Board has remanded the claims for right wrist disability, TDIU determination, and reopening of previously denied lumbar spine and left ankle disabilities due to outstanding VA treatment records. The effective date claim remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for right wrist osteoarthritis and L5-S1 degenerative disc disease, both secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee tendonitis. The decision states that no medical evidence supports a link between these conditions and his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for a wrist disability was denied as he does not have a chronic wrist disability.,The Veteran's claim for COPD was denied as the evidence did not establish a link between his in-service exposure and his current condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of various disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine whether the Veteran's current left wrist and hand disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left ring finger disability, including any additional disability sustained due to May 2012 treatment.

The Board has granted the appeals to reopen service connection for PTSD and vaccine reaction residuals. The appeal for service connection of a right wrist or arm disability, residuals of a vaccine reaction in service (other than psychiatric disabilities), and an acquired psychiatric disability is remanded due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The remaining claims for upper back/bilateral shoulder pain, bilateral foot pain, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist, and poor circulation of the lower extremities are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and PTSD have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.,For the issue of a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, the Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for such a rating based on his current symptomatology.