Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the bilateral feet, elbows, hands and wrists, as well as a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of his left foot injury were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support these claims based on the lack of current medical evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a traumatic scar of the right wrist and loss of use of his right hand (status-post wrist injury) are granted. The Veteran is found to have a current disability, with a history of an in-service motor vehicle accident resulting in a right wrist laceration that was incurred in the line of duty.

The Veteran's service-connected right wrist, right ankle, and skin disabilities have been denied as there is no evidence of current diagnoses for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various ankle, knee, hip, and buttock pain disabilities due to outstanding treatment records and further medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for gouty arthritis of the bilateral feet and ankles, as well as degenerative joint disease of the left wrist, both claimed as gouty arthritis. The VA examiners found no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on remanded issues are currently pending and will be reconsidered by the RO. The remaining denied conditions include acquired absence of teeth, fatty liver, left great toe bunion with osteoarthritis and gout, right great toe bunion with osteoarthritis and gout, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), pain in all joints and muscles, bilateral hearing loss, right Achilles tendonitis with calcaneal spurs, bilateral Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), hernias, left knee osteoarthritis, and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is caused by in-service noise exposure. The issues of left shoulder, bilateral hearing loss, left knee, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome are remanded for further examination and analysis.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including a thoracolumbar spine disability, prostate cancer, headaches, gastrointestinal disability manifesting in nausea and vomiting, and inability to conceive. These issues are being remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her bilateral wrist disabilities, finding that they are currently manifested by painful and limited motion without ankylosis. The case is remanded to obtain a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her right shoulder disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and an earlier effective date for increased rating for right ankle condition. The decision found no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and active service, or secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for left wrist disability due to a lack of a VA examination, and requests that an appropriate medical opinion be provided.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left shoulder, left wrist, cervical spine, and low back disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's complaints have been noted since service, but a definitive opinion is needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information in the examination report regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability. The issues of service connection for a back disability, left wrist disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability are all pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to June 11, 2007, for the award of service connection for carpel tunnel syndrome of the right lower arm and left arm and hand.

The Board has remanded several claims for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for earlier effective date for migraine headaches is denied, and the claims for increased ratings for bilateral ulnar nerve entrapment and carpal tunnel syndrome are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence and need further examination. The issues include rheumatoid arthritis, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, anemia (secondary to hysterectomy), and anatomical loss.

The Board has remanded the cases due to failure to obtain all relevant medical records and for additional etiological opinions.

The Veteran's PTSD with generalized anxiety disorder has been granted service connection.,Multiple Sclerosis, right wrist disorders (including carpal tunnel syndrome), and other conditions are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's compensation for the period of training days in fiscal year 2012 was withheld due to his receipt of active service pay. The issues regarding ratings for right wrist CTS are remanded.