Wrist & hand decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that new and material evidence was not received to reopen his left shoulder disability claim. The Veteran's hearing loss and knee disabilities were also denied. His right shoulder disability was rated at 20 percent, and his skin and wrist conditions did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left elbow painful motion with traumatic arthritis warrants a rating of 20 percent, effective June 20, 2014. The claim for an increased rating for left wrist traumatic arthritis is denied.

The Veteran's numbness of the right and left hands, possibly secondary to early carpal tunnel syndrome, has been rated as mild incomplete paralysis prior to December 20, 2016. Since then, it has been rated as moderate incomplete paralysis.,There is no evidence that the Veteran's condition meets or approximates the criteria for a higher rating since December 20, 2016.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, which is the maximum rating under Diagnostic Code 5215. The Board finds that in the absence of ankylosis, the preponderance of the evidence does not support a higher rating.,From October 24, 2017, the Veteran's disability picture is consistent with 'loss of use' of the right hand, warranting SMC(k) based on anatomical loss or 'loss of use'. The Board grants this claim.

For the entire rating period on appeal from June 8, 2011, the Veteran's left wrist disability has been manifested by symptoms of painful motion and stiffness without ankylosis. The evidence does not support a higher rating under any other diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been rated appropriately based on the severity of his symptoms and medical evidence provided.

The Veteran's service-connected back, left knee, and bilateral wrist disabilities require the use of braces that tend to wear or tear two distinct types of articles of clothing. The Board has determined that he is entitled to two clothing allowances for 2014.

The Board has granted service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that they are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's service-connected right hand peripheral neuropathy and degenerative joint disease of the right wrist have been granted a 30 percent evaluation, effective June 28, 2012. The Board also found that he is not entitled to TDIU for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain service department records and other pertinent medical records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for residuals of a back injury, muscle contraction headaches, headache disorder (including migraine headaches), elbow and forearm disorder, wrist and hand disorder, bilateral hip disorder, bilateral foot disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, sleep apnea, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for service connection in any of these cases.

The Veteran's left wrist disability, which resulted in a surgical immobilization (fusion) of the joint, is rated at 30 percent since March 1, 2013. The evidence shows that his range of motion was limited to zero degrees in both palmar and dorsiflexion as of November 19, 2013, meeting the criteria for a 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5214.

The Veteran is currently service-connected for migraine headaches, major depressive disorder, right wrist disorder, and sinusitis. The combined rating for these conditions from July 10, 2006 to May 5, 2014 is 70 percent.,Prior to July 10, 2006, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU. However, she has been unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to her service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including referral to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU on account of his service-connected left wrist disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his sleep apnea is not related to service or a service-connected disability. The abdominal scars are rated at 10 percent due to pain but no additional functional limitations. The residuals of multiple herniorrhaphies and malrotation repair with adhesions and abdominal pain warrant a 30 percent rating. The left wrist disability does not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his service-connected right wrist disabilities has been denied. The maximum schedular disability rating of 10 percent is assigned for the postoperative right scaphoid fracture and status post right wrist arthrodesis, with no additional ratings granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder and bilateral wrist strain as there is no evidence that these conditions had onset during active service or are otherwise related to any incident of active service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his left shoulder disability was denied. The current rating of 20 percent is maintained as the evidence does not show that the Veteran's shoulder motion has been limited to a level warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's left elbow and wrist disorders were not shown to be related to his active service or a service-connected disability. His right upper extremity disability is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right foot disorder and knee disorders, were denied as the evidence did not establish that these conditions are related to his active duty service or herbicide exposure.