Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a left wrist injury, right thigh condition, and diabetes mellitus type II (diabetes), finding no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrences that were not resolved.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various joint disabilities, including painful aching joints of the entire body and osteoarthritis. The VA will obtain relevant medical records from VA, SSA, and private providers, and schedule the Veteran for additional examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination for the left wrist disability. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's right wrist disability was granted a 10% rating, but not higher, prior to September 7, 2017.,For the period from April 1, 2008, to December 1, 2008, and February 1, 2009 to January 22, 2014, a 10% rating was granted for left lateral meniscectomy with osteoarthritis. A separate 20% rating is now granted for left knee instability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, ulnar neuropathy of the right upper extremity, chronic right wrist disability, acid reflux disease, and PTSD. The claims are being remanded due to inadequate VCAA notice.

The Veteran's service-connected right wrist disability is rated at 10 percent and the Board finds no basis for a higher rating. The claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and musculoskeletal conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU, which satisfies his appeal for a higher evaluation of PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right wrist and bilateral knee conditions. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for her claimed left wrist, shoulder, carpal tunnel syndrome, left knee, or right knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension, allergies (including allergic rhinitis), a low back disability, and a left wrist disability.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis, allergic rhinitis, and irregular menses with menorrhagia as the Veteran did not have these conditions during active service or develop them due to service.

The appeal for service connection for ischemic heart disease, bilateral foot disability restoration, and TDIU is dismissed. The appeals for increased ratings for various spinal disabilities, sensory deficits of the right shoulder and forearm, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, and left leg sensory deficit are withdrawn.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,Service connection for a pulmonary condition (chronic pneumonia) has not been established as there is insufficient evidence linking it to service.,Service connection for a bilateral arm condition has also not been established due to lack of evidence connecting it to service.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD is reopened, but service connection remains denied. The Board has ordered additional development to verify the in-service stressor of abuse and beatings during basic training and AIT. Service connection for chronic pain and an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD are also remanded.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is rated at 40 percent, but not higher. The case has been remanded for further development regarding TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to May 29, 2014 did not preclude him from performing gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience otherwise qualify him.

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeals for a compensable rating for hallux valgus of the left foot and service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral upper extremities.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's service connection claims will be reconsidered based on new evidence and analysis.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, and right elbow disability. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's medical expenses at St. Francis Medical Center on September 7, 2013 are approved as the condition was an emergent situation and VA facilities were not feasibly available.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his PTSD, traumatic amputation of the right middle finger, chronic fatigue syndrome, and various musculoskeletal conditions. The Board has determined that further examination is needed for all these claims due to the lack of recent examinations addressing current severity.