Wrist & hand decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Veteran was found not to have current left ear hearing loss for VA purposes, and his employment as a service technician was considered in determining that he could secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's clothing was damaged by a brace he uses for his service-connected left knee disability. The Board has granted payment of a clothing allowance for the calendar year 2014.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of sleep apnea and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome for further development. The Veteran's service connection claims are being reviewed due to insufficient information in the VA examinations.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, effective September 5, 2006. The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the left hand and right hand are both rated at 10 percent each. His demyelinating neuropathies of the lower extremities are both rated at 20 percent each. His chronic ischemic heart disease is currently rated at 30 percent, effective January 20, 2016.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and bilateral trigger finger, but remanded her claim for hypertension. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted (bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome) and others were not (bilateral trigger finger).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee disability, right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, and acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD, adjustment disorder, depression, anxiety, personality disorder, panic attacks, and nightmares) due to incomplete service treatment records and potential Reserve service. The claims are being remanded for further development including obtaining additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the nature, etiology, and severity of his right wrist disability and whether it is related to his service-connected conditions. The initial evaluation for bilateral hearing loss remains denied as there is no evidence showing a compensable level of impairment. The higher staged evaluations for PTSD are also being remanded due to new information that may affect the Veteran's employability.

The Board has determined that additional records are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection of various orthopedic disabilities, including bilateral wrist, lumbar spine, hands, hips, knees, ankles, and feet disabilities. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various disabilities, including right wrist, cervical spine, left knee, and right knee disabilities, as well as an acquired psychiatric disability and a lumbar spine disability. The appeals are being remanded due to outstanding records from Dr. James Morgan and the Texas Rehab Commission needing to be located and associated with the file, and a VA examination for the claimed psychiatric disability and lumbar spine disability is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for his right shoulder disorder, service connection for a neurological disorder of the right upper extremity including radiculopathy and carpal tunnel syndrome, and service connection for a cervical spine disorder due to inadequate examinations and opinions provided.

The Veteran's right wrist condition and old healed fracture of the right fifth metacarpal are both granted service connection. However, a compensable rating for the old healed fracture is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected rheumatoid arthritis did not contribute to his death from congestive heart failure and diabetes.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right bicep tenosynovitis, carpal tunnel syndrome (right wrist), and high cholesterol. The decision also granted a higher initial rating of 10 percent for a left eyebrow scar.

The Veteran's hypertension and cardiomyopathy are granted as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus and PTSD.,PTSD is granted with a 100 percent rating throughout the appeal period.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disability, vitiligo, thyroid disability, lateral instability of the right knee, and a right knee lateral meniscus tear with chronic sprain and early degenerative changes. The claim for increased ratings for these conditions was also dismissed. The Board remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for residuals, retained foreign body, right wrist is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and updated treatment records.

Service connection for IBS, as due to Gulf War undiagnosed illness, is granted. Service connection for headaches, left arm condition, left wrist condition, right index finger injury, lower back condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, and right eye condition are denied. Service connection for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, both as due to Gulf War undiagnosed illness, are also denied.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and congenital spinal stenosis, bilateral pes planus, right knee condition, left knee condition, and right wrist condition (dominant) as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions originated during active service.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of cold injury to both wrists with Raynaud's phenomenon have been granted a 10 percent rating, effective from August 6, 2012. The increased rating for plantar fasciitis and degenerative joint disease of the right heel and fifth metatarsal has been denied.