Wrist & hand decisions — 2018

The Veteran's right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome is currently rated at 30 percent disabling from March 19, 2013. The Board finds no evidence of symptoms warranting a higher rating.

The Board has found that there is no current diagnosis of a multiple joint disorder affecting the right wrist and bilateral ankles. The Veteran's right knee disability, however, is currently rated as 20 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims, including an increased rating claim for his left knee disability and issues related to bilateral pes planus, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, cervical spine disability, and lumbar strain. The case will be remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's appeal of the denial of sinusitis is dismissed.,The Veteran is not entitled to a compensable rating for residual fracture of right hand ring finger and little finger.,The Veteran is entitled to an initial 20 percent rating for right shoulder degenerative joint disease from September 24, 2011.,The Veteran is entitled to an initial 10 percent rating for residual right wrist fracture from September 24, 2011.,From July 4, 2017, the Veteran is entitled to a 30 percent rating for tension headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected neuropathy of the left upper extremity associated with post-surgical residuals of a navicular bone fracture of the left wrist is currently rated at 20 percent, effective October 7, 2011. The Board has granted this evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as his claim for service connection for stroke (claimed as cerebral vascular accident), due to lack of timely notice of disagreement. The Board also found that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's current disabilities to service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's claims were based on direct evidence rather than a presumption of exposure to herbicides.,There was no in-service diagnosis or treatment for the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected residuals of shell fragment wounds to the left forearm and wrist with retained foreign bodies was granted, with a 30% rating effective from October 17, 2007. Effective dates were also established for the award of separate ratings for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity, painful scar of the mid forearm extensor surface, and ganglion cyst of the left wrist.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, and dysthymic disorder, a bilateral ankle disorder, migraine headaches, right wrist arthritis, and neurological symptoms in the left lower extremity. The Board found insufficient credible supporting evidence to corroborate the claimed in-service stressors of MST or personal assault, and concluded that there was no diagnosis of PTSD based on these stressors. The Veteran's depressive disorder is not service connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's right hand/wrist and left ankle disabilities are not related to his active duty service. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left upper extremity nerve disability as secondary to his service-connected chronic left wrist sprains, carpal tunnel syndrome, mild left ulnar neuropathy, and cubital tunnel syndrome is being remanded due to the need for clarification of the Veteran's current disability picture.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn. The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the withdrawal of all issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's neck and right wrist disabilities are found to be related to service, with reasonable doubt resolved in his favor.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board grants TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA examinations and opinions regarding his wrist disorder, respiratory disorder, and tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's right wrist disability is not related to her active service and denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for CTS of the left wrist and Dupuytren's contracture of the left middle finger were denied. The current ratings are insufficient to reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic disability related to service, and concluded that the Veteran's joint pain is not due to his military service.