Wrist & hand decisions — 2018

The Veteran's ratings for his gouty arthritis of the bilateral knees, right foot, and wrist were combined into a single 60 percent rating. The issue is being remanded to clarify whether the left knee instability associated with left knee gouty arthritis was considered in this evaluation.

The appeal for service connection for bipolar disorder claimed as memory loss is dismissed. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, cataracts of both eyes, obstructive sleep apnea with CPAP (claimed as sleep apnea), arthritis of knees, bilateral, arthritis of shoulders, bilateral, DDD at C4-5, C5-6, and C6-7, spondylosis with foraminal impingement at C5-6 and C6-7, claimed as arthritis of the neck, right shoulder tendonitis, tendonitis of both wrists, and spurs in fingers of both hands is dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for cervical DDD, multiple joint arthritis (right shoulder and bilateral knees), left knee replacement, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and hammer toe as the evidence did not show these conditions began during a period of active duty or training.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and he is granted TDIU. The right wrist posttraumatic osteoarthritis and left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome with osteoarthritis are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right arm condition, including tendonitis, has been denied.,Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran’s PTSD exacerbates her irritable bowel syndrome.,A rating of 20 percent, and no higher, is granted for right shoulder tendonitis and impingement syndrome.,A rating of 20 percent, and no higher, is granted for cervical spine strain.,The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition (abnormal kyphosis), hemorrhoids, chronic anxiety-induced indigestion, increased urinary frequency, and anxiety disorder.,,,,

The Veteran's right CTS was granted a 20 percent rating from December 15, 2006 to September 3, 2015.,The Veteran's right CTS was granted a 40 percent rating starting from September 3, 2015.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant VA and private treatment records and conducting a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not combine to preclude substantially gainful employment, as the VA examiners found that her conditions do not prevent her from performing sedentary work.

The Veteran is granted service connection for tinnitus. The Board finds that the Veteran's current tinnitus began in service due to noise exposure.,The Veteran’s lower back disability and left knee disability are remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for a right wrist condition is granted. Service connection for this condition, heart condition secondary to herbicide exposure, and melanoma secondary to herbicide exposure are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Board has identified several issues that require further examination and evidence, including rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, right shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, low back disabilities, CFS, IBS, and migraine headaches.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to lack of development and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for carpal tunnel syndrome, right hand and left hand, degenerative joint disease of the right ankle, mild arthritis of the left ankle, and bilateral pes planus are remanded due to insufficient evidence in his file. A new VA examination is required.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left and right carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as his hypertension, were denied. The Veteran was granted a 100% disability rating for asthma with COPD and OSA effective September 4, 1998.,The issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to August 3, 2015 is dismissed as moot due to the grant of an earlier effective date for the award of a TDIU.

Your claims for service connection are being remanded to allow the VA to obtain any outstanding treatment records and then review your cases again.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, a skin disability (including basal cell skin cancer, squamous cell skin cancer, and actinic keratosis), and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The decision is based on direct evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to November 1, 2011 for additional dependency benefits was denied as proof of dependents was not submitted within one year of notification.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's residuals of a fractured left wrist, right wrist, orbital wall, sinus wall, and facial scars, all resulting from an in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn due to his satisfaction with the TDIU and the granted rating for hypertension. The claims for service connection, initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for various conditions, and other issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment in a sedentary capacity. The Board denied the claim for TDIU.