Wrist & hand decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inconsistencies in the examination results and lack of diagnosis, as well as an indication that the Veteran's DM disability may have increased in severity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination. The issues include various psychiatric conditions, sleep apnea, chronic fatigue syndrome, muscle pain, joint pain, and GERD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found no current diagnoses of the claimed conditions and insufficient evidence to establish a link between active duty service and these conditions.

The Veteran's headaches are granted an increased rating to 10 percent. The claim for a higher rating of schizophrenia is denied. The right wrist disability remains at 10 percent. Service connection for diabetes mellitus (right foot blisters) and left foot blisters, as well as the left leg and eye disabilities, have not been established.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings for PTSD, allergic rhinitis, and herpes zoster was withdrawn. Service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome is granted.

The Veteran's hypertension and right wrist disability are being remanded for additional development as the current evidence does not fully reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's left wrist disability was rated at 10% prior to September 29, 2009. Effective September 29, 2009, a 20% rating is granted.,Effective September 26, 2017, the Veteran received an additional 20% rating for muscle atrophy of the left forearm as a residual of his service-connected left navicular fracture with mild arthritis (left wrist).

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee, and spine disabilities due to new medical evidence. The cases are now remanded for further development.,New evidence supports reopening of the Veteran’s claims for service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, left elbow, right elbow, left wrist, right wrist, left knee, right knee, left ankle, cervical spine, and lumbar disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from July 23, 2010 to November 2, 2016. The appeal for TDIU on and after November 2, 2016 is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran withdrew from appeal the claims of service connection for soft tissue sarcoma, degenerative spinal disc disease, left wrist scar, and breathing problems during an August 2018 Board hearing.

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder and right wrist conditions have not resulted in the required limitations of motion to warrant a higher rating.,Service connection for various disorders, including hearing loss, tinnitus, and psychiatric conditions, has been denied.

The Veteran's TDIU rating is being remanded for further development and consideration of whether an extraschedular TDIU rating should be granted prior to January 31, 2013.

The Veteran's right hip and wrist disabilities have been rated based on their service-connected nature, with a TDIU granted effective June 15, 2012. The rating for the right hip fracture remains at 10 percent due to flexion limitation not meeting higher criteria, while the wrist disability is rated as 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and following a substantially gainful occupation between March 31, 2009 and April 20, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for hypertension was reopened, and he is now rated at 30 percent for CTS of the right wrist. He also received increased ratings for PN of the LLE and RLE sciatic nerves.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, but the claims for prostate cancer and thyroid disorder due to herbicide exposure are remanded. The claim for carpal tunnel is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for a right wrist disability, left ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) have all been denied. The Board found no current disabilities for these conditions.,Additionally, the Veteran's claim for a sleeping disorder associated with PTSD has also been denied.

The Veteran's left upper extremity median nerve neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome are rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that they more closely approximate a 20 percent rating for moderate incomplete paralysis. The TDIU claim is referred to VA's Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed. The Board has ordered the remand of several issues including neurological disorders, psychiatric disorder, and headaches.