Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of right ring finger surgery, including ulnar impairment and right wrist strain, were found to not warrant a higher initial disability rating from June 12, 1999 to December 4, 2002.

The Board has denied all service connection claims, finding no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and active service.

The Veteran's hypertension was denied as it did not manifest within a year of service or is otherwise attributable to the Veteran’s service. The right wrist, left wrist, right hand, left hand, right elbow, and left elbow conditions were remanded due to secondary service connection theory. The left knee condition was also remanded for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits was denied as there is no evidence of an earlier effective date prior to July 10, 2015. The Board found that the Veteran did not file his TDIU claim until December 2015, which is within one year of receiving the VA form 21-8940 application for TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of left wrist strain and service connection for bilateral foot disability, including residuals of frost bite, are remanded due to the need for additional development. The case will be readjudicated after all necessary steps have been taken.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as the evidence does not show that his service-connected disabilities alone prevent him from securing and maintaining gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete service treatment records and outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran is presumed to have Gulf War exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted in part. Service connection has been established for left shoulder condition, cervical spine condition (claimed as cervical spondylosis and stenosis), lumbar spinal stenosis, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, peripheral vestibular disorder, dizziness, obstructive sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, headache condition, left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, and service connection has been reopened for alcoholism and drug abuse. Other claims have been denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and a new medical opinion to determine if there is a link between the Veteran's current conditions and his service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for left wrist strain, right wrist strain, and thoracolumbar strain due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and depression have been granted service connection.,However, the Veteran's claim for a psychiatric disorder (depression) is remanded due to incomplete medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. 1151 due to an internal inconsistency in a previous VA examiner's opinion, and additional clarification is needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist pain and asthma have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The cases are being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA clinical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims for service connection for immersion foot and shrapnel right arm/wrist with pain are remanded due to the failure to issue a Statement of the Case.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a lumbosacral disability and secondary to a left shoulder disability due to lack of adequate examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right wrist and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records.

The Veteran's nephrolithiasis (kidney stones), left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, right wrist joint pain, left knee chondromalacia of patella, right knee chondromalacia of patella, and left ankle sprain are granted service connection. The Veteran's hypertension is also granted service connection. However, the issues of higher initial ratings for chronic fatigue syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease, non-migraine headaches, PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol abuse disorder, TDIU prior to June 3, 2013, and special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria prior to June 3, 2013 are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the aggravation of right carpal tunnel syndrome by a service-connected right ulnar nerve disability, but denied service connection for psychiatric disability secondary to service-connected ulnar nerve disability and temporary total rating for convalescence following treatment of a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's application to reopen his service connection claim for a cervical spine disability was denied. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand disabilities due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder strain, bilateral wrist strains, and bilateral foot disabilities (including mild decreased longitudinal arches). Service connection was denied for chest pain.