Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the Veteran's current disability is related to his active military service.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for various hand and knee conditions were denied. The right knee condition was rated at 10% from December 27, 2012, with no higher rating granted due to noncompensable limitation of flexion.

The Veteran's migraine disability is granted as secondary to her service-connected visual disability.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), diabetes mellitus, type 2 (diabetes), hypertension, and breast cancer are all remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The heart disability issue is dismissed. Service connection for PTSD, vertigo, plantar fasciitis, TBI, left wrist, bilateral ankle, bilateral elbow, and bilateral hand disabilities are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for left wrist tendonitis and pain, but remanded the cases of lumbar degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc syndrome and allergic rhinitis due to lack of nexus between current conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left wrist and left foot disabilities are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a connection between his current conditions and military service. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from January 25, 2008 to May 24, 2010.

The Veteran's CTS of the left upper extremity is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board has decided to remand his claims for an increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder and a TDIU due to potential worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's heart disability, gout, and acquired psychiatric disorder were denied as not related to service or service-connected conditions.,Service connection was not established for any of the claimed disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the condition began during active duty and has continued since then.

The Board has granted an effective date of March 14, 2012 for the assignment of a TDIU on an extraschedular basis. The Veteran was found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities since March 14, 2012.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability and carpal tunnel syndrome due to a lack of VA examination opinions. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine if his conditions are related to active military service.

The previously denied claims for lower back, left ankle, right ankle, left knee, and right knee disorders are reopened. The claim for gastrointestinal disorder is also reopened. However, the claims for a left wrist disorder remain pending as they need further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of his right elbow, right wrist, and left ankle disorders. The preponderance of the evidence does not demonstrate a nexus between these conditions and service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his muscle tension headaches prior to November 15, 2010 and from that date onwards. His wrist sprain, ankle disability, thoracic outlet syndrome of the right shoulder and neck, and residuals of a right knee injury status-post lysis of plica were all denied increased ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability. The issues of service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist, right shoulder disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression) are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development due to the need for a VA examination and review of treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with an initial evaluation of 50 percent. The claims for service connection for other conditions were denied, and the case is remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left wrist disability, finding that the current 10 percent rating adequately compensates him for his symptoms and limitations.

The Veteran's initial rating for carpal tunnel disability of the left wrist was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,An initial rating in excess of 30 percent for a hysterectomy from November 1, 2011 to December 1, 2011 was granted. However, an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for a hysterectomy beginning April 1, 2012 was denied.