Wrist & hand decisions — 2018

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied because his service-connected right wrist disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right wrist disorder, back disorder, right ankle disorder, and allergic skin condition due to outstanding service treatment records that may corroborate the Veteran's reports.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back disability, sarcoidosis, carpal tunnel syndrome (both upper extremities), and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's right ankle disability and other joint pain conditions are being remanded for further development. The issues of increased rating, compensable rating, service connection, and TDIU will be addressed after the additional examinations.

The Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are more closely approximating mild incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on foot pain and cramps, headaches, and carpal tunnel syndrome have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The Board will consider these issues once the new evidence is provided.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to his PTSD and other conditions, leading the Board to grant a TDIU effective September 19, 2014.

The Veteran's right wrist disability was initially rated as noncompensable prior to September 20, 2017. After a recharacterization of the condition and an adjustment in rating criteria, it is now rated at 10 percent for this period.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, and a neurological condition of the right upper extremity including carpal tunnel syndrome and peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran's exposure to herbicides is presumed.,Service connection was also denied for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities.

The Veteran's right wrist disability has not been manifested by ankylosis or limitation of motion to the degree required for a higher rating. The claim is denied as there is no evidence of more than the currently assigned 10 percent rating.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss, but denied for cervical spine DJD, hypertension, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left arm disorder, left ankle disorder, and right ankle disorder. The TBI, equilibrium disorder, and gastroesophageal reflux disease claims are also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and left wrist disabilities. The claims of service connection for atrial fibrillation, hypertension, head and neck cancer, upper extremity neuropathy, and lower extremity neuropathy due to herbicide exposure are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 50 percent rating prior to February 10, 2015. A 70 percent rating is granted from February 10, 2015 onwards.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to outstanding medical records and examination needs.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that his current disability is causally related to his active service. The previous denial was due to insufficient evidence at the time.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and compensable ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities, as well as radiculopathy, diaphoresis, hypertension, residuals of inguinal hernia, gastrointestinal disability, prostate disability, and peripheral nerve disability (claimed as peripheral neuropathy) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for arm pain (degenerative joint disease of the bilateral shoulder).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating due to incomplete records, particularly regarding his periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and private treatment records. The TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient examination reports and failure to consider all relevant evidence.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal before the Board could make a decision.