Wrist & hand decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right wrist, left wrist, and right foot conditions have been denied as the established schedular criteria adequately describe their functional impairment.

The Veteran's claims for compensable ratings for her service-connected left lower extremity and right shoulder disabilities, as well as her claim for service connection for a right upper extremity disorder (claimed as a ligament injury in the right wrist), are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's right wrist disability has been rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5215. The Board found that there was no additional functional limitation after repetitive testing and did not find ankylosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate these appeals as they have become moot.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and consideration, including service connection claims for various hand, finger, wrist, and ear disabilities. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral wrist tendonitis has been rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that there is no evidence of compensable limitation of motion or arthritis to warrant a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left wrist sprain residuals and degenerative arthritis of the left wrist, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his in-service injury.

The Board has decided that the claims for right wrist, back, and knee disorders are remanded due to inadequate examinations. The Veteran's right hip disorder is also being reviewed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities because his employment status did not meet the criteria for TDIU, as he was found to be employed and capable of substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasons for denying TDIU, and referred it back to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, thus denying his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the merits is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding his bilateral eye condition, right knee disability, and bilateral foot condition.,A new VA examination will be scheduled for the Veteran to address his bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to address continuity of symptomatology in the decision. The Veteran will need new VA examinations for his right knee, left wrist, and low back disabilities.

The Board has determined that the combined evaluation of 60 percent from March 8, 2012 to November 18, 2015; and 80 percent from November 19, 2015 is correctly calculated based on the service-connected disability evaluations in effect at that time. The appeal for a higher combined evaluation is denied.

The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma, lymph node in the neck, and hyperuricemia and arthritis conditions of the spine, shoulders, wrists, hands, arms, ankles, legs, and feet are granted service connection. The arthritis conditions were recharacterized to include all arthritic conditions reasonably raised by the record.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits are granted for the period from April 27, 2009 to May 31, 2010. The periods prior to April 27, 2009 and from June 1, 2010 to February 28, 2012 are remanded for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for his ankle and knee rheumatoid arthritis, as well as wrist conditions, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating than 10 percent for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is not productive of actual or functional flexion limited to 45 degrees or extension to 15 degrees, and he has been granted a separate 10 percent rating for the symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage. The right wrist disability has also been rated at 10 percent. Service connection was established for low back disorder.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary due to outstanding treatment records and remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including ankle, hip, and shoulder conditions. The Veteran will need new examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeals.