Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance for hydrocortisone valerate is remanded due to the absence of evidence in the claims file showing permanent damage to his outer garments.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral wrist disabilities and left hand, right hand, and left first finger disabilities that are claimed as secondary to a service-connected disability. The Veteran's current conditions are found to be related to the 1996 motor vehicle accident caused by his service-connected seizure disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Board has found that remand is necessary to obtain the Veteran's Air Force Reserve service records and to provide a VA examination for his right wrist osteoarthritis claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, right heel strain, sleep apnea, migraine headaches, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and eye disability (secondary to PTSD) have all been denied.,Service connection was not granted for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity to preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and experience as of May 23, 2017.

The Board has denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and right ear hearing loss, but has remanded the issues of service connection for a left wrist condition, migraine headaches, and sleep disorder.

Your appeal has been dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of this appeal. The Board does not have jurisdiction to decide your claim now.

The Veteran's non-VA medical treatment for left wrist pain on December 16, 2014 was granted reimbursement as it met the criteria of being an emergency and a VA facility not being feasibly available.

The Board denied service connection for various shoulder, wrist, ankle, hip, and knee conditions as well as a lumbar spine condition. The Veteran's claim was not reopened due to the nature of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal. The appeals for right wrist disability and liver disability are remanded.

The Veteran's initial claim for an initial compensable rating for his right breast scar status post-surgical excision right breast gynecomastia was denied. The Board found that the criteria for a higher or separate rating were not more nearly approximated.,The Veteran's earlier effective date claim for his right breast scar status post-surgical excision right breast gynecomastia was denied as there is no evidence of a prior claim within one year of separation from service. The RO granted service connection on the date of receipt of claim, May 22, 2015.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for his right wrist ganglion cyst (claimed as right-hand arthritis), sleep apnea (claimed as a sleep disorder), hypertension, and migraine headaches were all denied. The Board found that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen these claims.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition to include post-traumatic stress disorder and persistent depressive disorder was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral wrist disabilities cause his clothing to wear or tear, warranting an annual clothing allowance for 2015.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right leg pain, right knee pain, right shoulder pain, wrist pain, left hip pain, and right hip pain have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received. The claim for service connection for left elbow disorder is reopened.,Service connection for lumbosacral arthritis, left knee arthralgia, left shoulder osteoarthritis, foot (toe) osteoarthritis, diabetes mellitus II, and hearing loss in the left ear have also been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for a comprehensive VA examination to determine if the Veteran's right hand disability is due to his carpal tunnel release surgery and whether any additional disabilities are related to the surgery or pre-existing conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a lumbar spine disability, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, and right carpal tunnel syndrome have been granted.,Service connection has also been established for sleep apnea as secondary to depression, and high blood pressure is considered not related to service. Service connection for depression was found to be proximately due to service-connected wrist and shoulder disabilities.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for impingement syndrome with degenerative changes and rotator cuff tears in the right shoulder, left shoulder tendonitis and degenerative joint disease at the AC joint, residuals of fracture left distal radius with ankylosis, carpal tunnel syndrome in the left upper extremity, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist, left ankle, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities due to outstanding treatment records and need for new examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right wrist sprain and right carpal tunnel syndrome are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the higher rating of 10 percent for the Veteran’s service-connected right index finger disability, as it was not factually ascertainable that an increase in disability occurred within one year prior to July 16, 2013.,The Board also denied a higher rating for the Veteran's service-connected right index finger disability, finding that he is already in receipt of the maximum rating available.,The Board denied entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need of regular aid and attendance, as the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities do not result in him needing such assistance.

The Veteran's preexisting left wrist disability was aggravated by his first period of active duty service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.