Wrist & hand decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been characterized by painful motion, but do not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The scars are small and asymptomatic.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical spine disability and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left wrist scar and bilateral shin scars are related to his service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of injury to the nose with deviated septum is found to aggravate his current sleep apnea, which was previously denied. The Board finds that the Veteran has a disability manifested by loss of peripheral vision and grants service connection for this condition as secondary to his service-connected residuals of injury to the nose with deviated septum. Service connection is also granted for cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome as secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeals for the issues of service connection for a right hand disability, service connection for a right wrist disability, and a rating for right shoulder acromioclavicular arthritis in excess of 10 percent prior to August 29, 2014, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's cubital and carpal tunnel syndrome of the right arm is currently rated at 40 percent, which is in line with his symptoms and examination findings. The disability has been manifested by pain, stiffness, and numbness without more than moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized as chondromalacia and meniscus tear, is found to be secondary to his service-connected left knee condition. The Board has granted a rating of 10% for the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome is not service-connected, as it did not manifest within one year of her service and there is no evidence linking it to her service-connected right wrist tendonitis.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to an effective date prior to June 16, 2015 for the grant of service connection for left (nondominant) extremity wrist drop.

The Veteran's bilateral wrist orthopedic disabilities are each rated at 10 percent, the maximum rating available under the applicable diagnostic codes. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and a disability of the bilateral upper extremity manifested by numbness (diagnosed as epicondylitis).

The Veteran's claim for various equipment purchases/home modifications under the vocational rehabilitation independent living plan is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and updated independent living assessment.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and neurological disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's scar of the right forearm, wrist, and hand is rated at 20 percent since March 16, 2017.,The Veteran's scars on his left forearm, wrist, and hand are currently rated as 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and left wrist condition, finding that the Veteran's back condition is not related to his military service. The right knee and left knee disabilities were also found to be unrelated to service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's right wrist and hemorrhoids conditions did not warrant a higher rating, while his erectile dysfunction was rated as noncompensable.