Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology and relationship of the Veteran's conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and private medical records. The issues of entitlement to initial compensable evaluations for various service-connected disabilities are being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic sinus disability, arthritis of the left shoulder, bilateral elbows, right wrist, fingers, left ankle, and bilateral feet have been reopened.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left eye disability has not met the criteria to be reopened.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 6, 2011 for the grant of a 40 percent rating for residuals, fracture left navicular bone is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not show that his service-connected residuals, fracture left navicular bone caused or aggravated his left upper extremity disorders.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, a heart condition (claimed as chest pain), and erectile dysfunction. The VA will obtain an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran’s right carpal tunnel syndrome claim, including whether it is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected right wrist tendonitis. A new VA examination will also be scheduled for the Veteran's heart condition claim to determine if it is related to his active service. Additionally, a SOC will be provided for the issue of entitlement to a compensable initial disability rating for erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's depressive disorder, NOS is granted as service-connected.,Effective February 19, 2010, the Veteran is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a 10 percent disability rating for surgical scar, ganglion cyst removal left wrist is granted with an effective date of October 7, 2009. The case is remanded due to the need for updated treatment records and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for various disabilities, including bilateral ankle, knee, wrist, left mandibular paresthesia, lumbar spine disability (DDD), middle finger disability, and bilateral hip disability. The claims are being remanded to obtain VA examinations and additional medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left upper extremity disability, including carpal tunnel syndrome, is remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical records related to the Veteran's cause of death, and a VA examiner is needed to assess whether there is any relationship between the Veteran’s cause of death and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left wrist, right shoulder, right arm pain, left arm pain, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (low back disability), left knee arthritis, and right knee arthritis due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the severity of his left wrist condition, nature and etiology of his right shoulder and arm disabilities, and nature and etiology of his low back and knee conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right wrist injury is remanded due to insufficient evidence. His claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

For the entire period on appeal, an initial rating higher than 20 percent for a right carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is denied.,For the entire period on appeal, an initial rating higher than 30 percent for a left carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is denied.,For the entire period on appeal, an initial rating of 50 percent, but not higher, for migraine headache disability is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and a right wrist disability due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations regarding her service-connected residual scars, joint impairment, muscle damage, and recurrent right wrist ganglion cyst. The current ratings are not sufficient as there are issues with the existing VA examination reports.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations and extraschedular considerations for various service-connected disabilities is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of the record.

The Veteran's right wrist scar is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a sinus disability diagnosed as chronic sinusitis. The claims for left wrist, right knee, and hemorrhoids disabilities have been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for cervical spine disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), and higher rating for low back pain with radiculopathy due to incomplete development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left foot disability, ovarian cyst, sinusitis, arthritis, abdominal pain, chest pain, low back disability with radiculopathy of the lower extremities, sleep apnea, neuroma of the left foot, fibromyalgia, diabetes mellitus, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and anemia. The claims are being remanded for further development.