Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to comply with the requirements of Correia v. McDonald.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, is granted with an effective date of January 29, 1972.,Left knee instability and right knee instability are granted with an effective date of January 29, 1972. Left knee loss of extension is also granted with the same effective date.

The Veteran's service-connected right humerus disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has found that it does not warrant a higher rating.,The Veteran's service-connected left wrist scar is currently rated as noncompensable (0%), and the Board has found that it does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate VA examinations and missing medical records.

The Veteran's low back condition is granted service connection, but his left shoulder and right wrist conditions are denied. The issue of entitlement to service connection for right upper quadrant pain and tinea pedis is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and facet arthritis, right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), and left hip bursitis. The remaining issues of entitlement to service connection for a right foot disability, left foot disability, and right ankle disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings and TDIU prior to September 8, 2014.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and evidence are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, a skin condition, and left carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has granted service connection for the residuals of a left wrist ganglion cyst, including arthritis of the left wrist. However, it denied service connection for ulnar neuropathy of the left upper extremity, as related to the left wrist ganglion cyst.

The Veteran's appeal for PTSD was dismissed. The claim for reopening and service connection for cervical spine disability is granted, with a 40% rating effective from February 4, 2011. Service connection for other conditions (numbness in both hands, numbness in left fingers, numbness in right fingers, carpal tunnel syndrome of bilateral wrists, migraine headaches) was denied. The claim for service connection for Scheuermann's Kyphosis of Dorsolumbar Spine is granted with an effective date from February 4, 2011.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, bilateral knee disability, and right wrist disability due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for a right wrist disability and a left leg disability, finding no relationship between the disabilities and service. The Veteran's hearing loss was also remanded due to possible worsening.,Service connection is not granted for a right wrist sprain or a fall on the left thigh during service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome has been granted, and the cases for rating his left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right wrist arthritis, finding that it is related to his in-service fall. The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the current disability is related to service.

The Veteran's appeals seeking initial compensable ratings for various conditions have been dismissed.,Initial rating higher than 10 percent for glaucoma, left wrist scar residual, and sinusitis are also dismissed.

The Board dismissed all appeals regarding the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as he withdrew his appeals in May 2016. The Veteran was granted a TDIU from July 26, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's initial claim for a rating of 10 percent for his right wrist fracture prior to October 5, 2016 was granted. The appeal for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent from October 5, 2016 is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected left arm carpal tunnel syndrome is granted on a secondary basis to his existing service-connected cervical spine disability. The rating for the left shoulder disability remains at 40 percent.

The Board has remanded cases for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine, cervical spine, and related neurological disabilities. The issues of service connection remain pending.