Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were denied. The right wrist fracture residuals claim was not granted, and the costochondritis and erectile dysfunction claims resulted in initial non-compensable ratings.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance is denied as there is no evidence of helplessness or inability to protect oneself from daily hazards.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the merits of the Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including arthritis of the elbows and wrists, poor vision, anal fistula, diabetes mellitus, and TDIU. The Veteran will need to undergo a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral elbow and wrist conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip/thigh, right wrist, and bilateral knee disabilities due to failure of the Veteran to report for VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity as it was not incurred or aggravated during active service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's current wrist, knee, and back disabilities are related to his active service. The case will be remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist and right ankle disabilities, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that would support a grant of service connection.

The Veteran's right wrist disability, TBI residuals, and mood disorder associated with TBI are all rated at their maximum levels. The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions do not render him totally unemployable.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities combined to render him materially less capable of resisting his heart disease, which caused his death.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the thoracic/lumbar spine and arthritis in multiple areas, including left buttock, left foot, right fingers, left fingers, right wrist, left thigh, and left forearm. The decision is based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected photodermatitis.

The Veteran's uncontrolled bowel movements, trouble feeding himself, and need for assistance maintaining his own basic hygiene show that he is factually in need of regular aid and attendance of at least one other person. Therefore, the claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance has been granted.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right knee and right wrist disabilities due to insufficient reasoning in the previous VA examination.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is granted as service connected due to herbicide exposure. His bilateral polyneuropathy and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome are also granted as secondary to his service-connected DMII.

The Board has denied service connection for a disorder of the bilateral feet. The claims for arthritis of the hands/fingers and wrists have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional examinations to determine the severity of the Veteran's service-connected right wrist scapholunate ligament tear, degenerative joint disease of the sacroiliac joints with lumbar osteoporosis, and right hip degenerative joint disease.

Service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand is granted.,Service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left wrist and hemorrhoid disabilities were both denied by the Board. The left wrist disability was evaluated at 10 percent, while the hemorrhoid disability remained non-compensable.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development to determine if pseudogout or a form of systemic arthritis initially manifested during service and whether it is related to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and ratings related to various disabilities have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).