Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment since November 1, 2012. The Board has granted an effective date of November 1, 2012 for the award of TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims for a low back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right hip disability, and skin condition. The remaining issues have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of epididymitis, right hand disability, right shoulder disability, right wrist disability, or left wrist disability.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's claims of service connection, rating increases, and TDIU are being returned to the RO for further consideration.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for bilateral leg eczema and left carpal tunnel syndrome was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under either set of criteria, with the exception of the moderate impairment noted in June 16, 2015, which is considered to be effective from that date.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any left wrist neurological disability, and readjudicating the issues.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based upon individual employability (TDIU) from January 2, 2018 due to his service-connected disabilities. Prior to this date, the evidence did not show he was unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss does not meet the criteria for VA compensation purposes.,The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and a higher rating is denied due to lack of limitation of motion or ankylosis.,The Veteran's right hand disability (wrist) is currently rated at 10 percent based on painful motion, and no higher rating is granted as there is no evidence of ankylosis or dislocation of the semilunar cartilage.,PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, but a higher rating in excess of 70 percent is denied due to lack of total occupational and social impairment.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining a substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment for the appeal period from March 30, 2010 to November 21, 2011. An effective date of March 30, 2010 is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right wrist disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist arthritis and left shoulder disorder due to inadequate examination reports. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent effective July 16, 2012. The Veteran also received SMC based on housebound status due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right wrist disability, bilateral knee disability, and dry skin of scalp and face due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is also being asked to provide additional evidence regarding his neck condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for a thoracolumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, left upper extremity disorder, and bilateral eye disorder due to additional development being required.

The Board has granted service connection for various disabilities associated with Reiter's syndrome and awarded an effective date of April 3, 1997.

The Board has granted a 20% disability rating for the Veteran's right ankle disability, but has remanded his claim for service connection of left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted from July 31, 2006. The Board also referred the issue of TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to July 31, 2006 for further review.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, including instability and posterior tibial tendonitis, is granted a separate rating of 20 percent. Service connection for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome with mast cell activation disorder, lumbar degenerative disc disease, right-hand disability, left-hand disability, and POTS are all granted. Service connection for a sleep disorder is denied.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the claims of service connection for left foot disorder, right foot disorder, sleep disorder, increased ratings for left clavicle subluxation with shoulder strain disability and status-post scaphoid fracture with carpal fusion, right wrist disability, and a TDIU. The claims are being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and examination reports.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left wrist disability are inadequate, necessitating further development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for right hand carpal tunnel syndrome was denied, but her service connection claim for irritable bowel syndrome was granted.