Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's tinnitus and headaches are granted service connection. The claims for carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic diarrhea, and sinusitis are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for left and right wrist conditions, diabetes mellitus type II, lumbar spine condition, GERD, and obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including instability, is rated at 20 percent and no higher.,A separate 10 percent rating for patellar instability is granted.,Compensable ratings are assigned for the ventral hernia, bilateral hearing loss, recurrent episcleritis with surface ocular inflammation, scarring due to genital warts and treatment of genital warts, residual scars s/p ventral hernia laparoscopic surgery, and left wrist sprain with degenerative arthritis and residual pain from old wrist fracture.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were present during service and related to his current condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for carpal tunnel syndrome were denied.,The claim for an earlier effective date was specifically denied.

The appeal as to the issues of service connection for tinnitus, low back disorder, stress, migraine headaches, and allergies is dismissed.,Nine new claims are being remanded: GERD, fatigue, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder (including impingement), right wrist disorder, left wrist disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, bilateral foot disorder, and right wrist disorder due to potential errors in the initial decision. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions on a secondary basis to his existing service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and the need for additional medical opinions regarding service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his right wrist scar was denied. He is now granted an effective date of September 1, 2016.,His request for a higher rating than 10 percent for the same condition remains denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing records from his period of active duty with the Navy Reserves. The RO is instructed to obtain these records and provide a formal finding of unavailability if they cannot be obtained.

The Veteran's service-connected right wrist condition and related disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, leading to a grant of TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The appeal for service connection for a left wrist disorder is dismissed. The acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenia with exacerbation and schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, anxiety, and depression, was not shown in service and is not etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings and service connection were dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his claims prior to promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's service-connected carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity is granted a 30 percent disability rating, effective November 8, 2010. The right upper extremity is granted a 40 percent disability rating, also effective November 8, 2010. Combined disabilities have resulted in TDIU from this date.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee, left ankle, and right wrist disabilities, finding that each is at least as likely as not incurred during the Veteran's period of active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and he is now rated at a 70 percent disability rating for his psychiatric condition. The Veteran also received grants for the service connection of various disabilities including right hand carpal tunnel, left hand carpal tunnel, right knee, left knee, and left shoulder conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection of bilateral wrist disabilities due to a lack of VA examinations and duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's complaints include bilateral wrist pain, with right wrist diagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right wrist disability is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for degenerative arthritis with mallet finger of the right little finger remains denied due to lack of pathology warranting any diagnosis.

The Veteran's right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.