Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings as they are not fully developed and additional evidence may be needed to make a determination.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for a TBI and initial ratings for various musculoskeletal conditions. The Veteran's adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood is rated at 70 percent. Initial ratings for his shoulder strains, wrist tendonitis, little finger strain, lumbar degenerative joint disease, knee patellofemoral syndrome, left ankle strain, right ankle strain, and tinnitus are denied.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension, vision disability, right and left carpal tunnel syndrome, gout, and granted a 10% rating for bilateral hearing loss. The effective date of the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is not being advanced.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with his pending claims for increased ratings and entitlement to service connection. The case will be referred to the Director, Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left wrist degenerative joint disease (DJD) is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea syndrome and hypertension due to insufficient evidence. The claim for a temporary total disability rating following surgery on February 18, 2014 is not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were not filed within one year of his separation from active duty, and thus the effective dates for these conditions are denied.

The Veteran's claim for a 10 percent rating for his right wrist scapholunate ligament injury is granted. The issue of service connection for a right ankle disorder is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome and glaucoma due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left ankle sprain is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal of an increased rating for a scar status post gunshot wound left arm medial aspect was dismissed. The appeals for service connection for residuals of the gunshot wound and left carpal tunnel syndrome are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than March 25, 2014, and increased ratings for his left shoulder disorder were denied. His service connection claims for right knee, left knee, right foot, and left foot disorders are pending.

Back, right knee and lower leg, left knee and lower leg conditions granted.,Right wrist condition denied.,Bilateral hearing loss not met criteria for service connection.,Service connection granted for right shoulder and arm, left shoulder and arm, left wrist condition, and migraine headaches.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and further evaluation is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to new VA treatment records being added to the record.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee condition, carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity, and carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), on an extraschedular basis, prior to October 7, 2008, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following any substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are denied, except for the grant of service connection for pes planus in the left foot. The remaining issues have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's right wrist osteoarthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 5124. The Board finds no evidence of ankylosis and denies a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claims of entitlement to service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome, a left shoulder condition, and a right shoulder strain with rotator cuff tear remain not reopened. Service connection is denied for diabetes mellitus, type 2, including as secondary to exposure to herbicide agents, and bilateral neuropathy.