Wrist & hand decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.,The Veteran's request for a higher rating for his right arm fracture, right radius and ulna status post carpal tunnel release is denied. The maximum schedular rating of 10 percent has been awarded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Meniere's disease, spondylosis of the cervical spine, right carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), left CTS, a right foot disorder, and right ankle tenosynovitis and tendinopathy were all denied as they are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome, left wrist was not initially service connected due to lack of evidence. However, new EMG results from April 2016 show current disability and the VA examiner did not consider these records in their assessment. The Board has ordered additional medical records and a new opinion.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating. The Veteran was granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for right elbow disorder, right hip disorder, and right wrist disorder. The claim for joint pain is denied as there is no evidence of chronic undiagnosed symptoms or illnesses. Service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted based on a current diagnosis.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for service-connected CTS of the right upper extremity with sympathetic reflex dystrophy, effective from July 27, 2009.

The Veteran's choroidal nevus, left eye was not caused by active military service and is not otherwise related to military service.,The Veteran's perimenopause with menorrhagia was not caused by active military service and it not otherwise shown to be related to military service.,There is no evidence of record showing that the Veteran has left carpal tunnel syndrome that had its onset during active service or is otherwise related to active service.,There is no evidence of record showing that the Veteran has right carpal tunnel syndrome that had its onset during active service or is otherwise related to active service.,The Veteran does not have hearing loss that meets VA regulations for a current disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right upper extremity condition and low back disability have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. However, further development is needed as VA treatment records are missing.,VA has not provided an opinion regarding whether the Veteran’s current right upper extremity conditions (other than carpal tunnel syndrome) are related to his service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and a separate compensable evaluation for various scars have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals prior to the decision being made.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were denied. The right wrist fracture residuals claim was not granted, and the costochondritis and erectile dysfunction claims resulted in initial non-compensable ratings.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance is denied as there is no evidence of helplessness or inability to protect oneself from daily hazards.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the merits of the Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including arthritis of the elbows and wrists, poor vision, anal fistula, diabetes mellitus, and TDIU. The Veteran will need to undergo a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral elbow and wrist conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip/thigh, right wrist, and bilateral knee disabilities due to failure of the Veteran to report for VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity as it was not incurred or aggravated during active service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's current wrist, knee, and back disabilities are related to his active service. The case will be remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist and right ankle disabilities, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that would support a grant of service connection.

The Veteran's right wrist disability, TBI residuals, and mood disorder associated with TBI are all rated at their maximum levels. The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions do not render him totally unemployable.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities combined to render him materially less capable of resisting his heart disease, which caused his death.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the thoracic/lumbar spine and arthritis in multiple areas, including left buttock, left foot, right fingers, left fingers, right wrist, left thigh, and left forearm. The decision is based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected photodermatitis.