Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's claim to reopen the cervical spine disability is denied. The lumbar spine and left wrist disabilities are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable evaluations for right and left hand carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as her appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability to include simple phobia (now consolidated under major depressive disorder with PTSD and insomnia), have been dismissed. The Veteran has also been granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at 0 percent for the entire rating period. The Board has remanded to obtain additional evidence related to left wrist disability, back disability, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities.

The Board denied service connection for a right wrist disability as there is no probative medical evidence of a current right wrist disability.

The Veteran's left wrist flexor tendinitis is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum available rating. The Board has remanded for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for fatigue, a left foot disability other than hallux valgus and/or plantar fasciitis with heel spur, and bilateral plantar fasciitis with heel spur.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for bilateral pes planus. The remaining issues on appeal have been remanded for further development.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for a left ankle disorder, an increased rating for right wrist disability in excess of 10 percent from June 7, 2012, and TDIU. The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of both wrists due to incomplete service records and the need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee, shin splints, right ankle, bilateral heel spurs, gastrointestinal disability, erectile dysfunction, carpal tunnel syndrome, and nerve disability of the lower legs and feet due to inadequate VA examination reports. The issues are related to service connection.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his ulcer and lung disabilities did not contribute to his death. The causes of death were attributed to aspiration pneumonia, dysphagia, and dementia.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and additional VA treatment records need to be considered.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, asbestosis, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, and right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome. The reasons given were that the evidence did not support a finding of current disability or a link to military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to adjudicate the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to treatment at the Nashville VA Medical Center in April 2011, and has remanded the case for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is of service origin and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition. The remaining issues are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for Parkinson’s disease and right shoulder, left shoulder, left wrist, right hip, and left hip disabilities due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral wrist tenosynovitis has been reopened and granted.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disorder is denied as the condition did not manifest within one year of service discharge and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology. The Board finds that the Veteran’s current back disability is more likely related to his civilian work rather than service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected right wrist condition, residual scars, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not warrant a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is currently rated at 10 percent, effective August 9, 2013. The Board denied a higher rating as there was no evidence of ankylosis or other basis for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal has been returned for further review. His right knee osteoarthritis with retropatellar pain syndrome and instability are being remanded, as is his claim for left carpal tunnel syndrome.