Wrist & hand decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service connection claims for right shoulder, wrist and finger, and ankle degenerative joint disease were denied as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's ulnar neuropathy of the left elbow is attributable to his in-service left shoulder dislocation, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to fully and correctly adjudicate the claims on appeal, including obtaining National Guard service records, VA treatment records from October 2015 onward, and private medical treatment records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran is granted a disability rating of 20 percent for CTS of the left wrist, but no higher. The Board finds that his symptoms are best described as moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating for diabetes, service connection for a skin condition, kidney disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, right ankle disability, and right wrist disability were denied. The claim for reopening of the right ankle and right wrist disabilities was granted.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for examinations to assess his left wrist condition, organic hypersomnia, and sleep apnea. The claims will be adjudicated again after these steps.

The Board has granted service connection for right wrist strain and assigned a 10 percent rating. The Veteran's left wrist fracture with ankylosis is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, but the Board found that his symptoms warrant a higher initial rating of 40 percent.

The Board has restored the Veteran's original 50 percent rating for his service-connected right hand injury, but denied a higher evaluation and TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease in service and insufficient evidence to link his current condition to service.

The Veteran's heart disability was denied as not related to service-connected diabetes. His peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity is currently rated at 10%.,The Veteran's TDIU claim due to his service-connected disabilities has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his left ankle and right wrist and hand disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected mid carpal arthritis of the left wrist has been rated at 10 percent since June 2013. The Board found that this rating is appropriate as there was no evidence of ankylosis, which would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected residuals of scaphoid nonunion, right wrist was denied by the RO. The disability is currently rated at 40 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance or housebound.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for various disabilities, including a right elbow disability, back disability, hand disorder, hearing loss, headaches, swollen glands, female problems and menstrual disorders, abdominal pain (residuals of hysterectomy), hypertension, left arm pain, right arm pain, left wrist pain, right hand pain, left knee pain, right knee pain, and bilateral foot disorder. The claims are being remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and bilateral foot disabilities due to ionizing radiation. The evidence now shows a link between these conditions and the Veteran's service.

The Veteran's bilateral wrist disability is service-connected and granted.,For the back disability, a rating in excess of 20 percent before April 24, 2014 and since April 24, 2014 has not been met. For the right leg radiculopathy, a compensable rating has not been met. For the left knee and right knee disabilities, a compensable rating has not been met. For the left ankle disability, a rating in excess of 10 percent from May 14, 2014 to May 15, 2017 and since May 16, 2017 has not been met. For the right ankle disability, a compensable rating has not been met. For the migraine headache disability, a rating in excess of 10 percent has not been met.

The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome and mild medial nerve entrapment of the right side are not etiologically related to her active military service or a service-connected disability, resulting in denial of service connection.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and development are necessary before the claims can be decided on their merits.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, an eye disability, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome of the hands and wrists. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.