Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's non-VA medical care at VMC for a left wrist injury was authorized in advance, and the Board finds that it met all criteria for payment or reimbursement under 38 U.S.C. § 1725.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and requests for examinations.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of all issues.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right and left wrist disabilities, including degenerative joint disease and carpal tunnel syndrome. The Veteran is required to undergo a VA examination to determine if his current wrist conditions are related to in-service complaints.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA opinion and to obtain missing VA medical records, including a physician's note from a March 2010 Hand Surgery Visit.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection has been granted. The decision also includes a finding of TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for numbness in fingers (now claimed as carpal tunnel syndrome, left hand) is reopened. The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the current bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for effective dates prior to November 7, 2013 for service connection of major depressive disorder, GERD, and left wrist strain due to lack of written communication indicating intent to file a claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist condition, left wrist condition, and stiffness in his right hand middle finger due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ankle disorder, cardiac disorder, left arm disorder, right arm disorder, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The decision also dismissed the claim for a total disability based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial rating of his wrist conditions due to new evidence being associated with the file.

The Board has granted initial compensable ratings for left knee, right wrist, and left wrist disorders. The remaining issues of increased ratings for lumbar spine strain with left lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a nerve condition of the left arm, including carpal tunnel syndrome. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during service or were related to any in-service injury.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including eye condition, joint pain, shoulder and neck conditions, wrist and hand conditions, knee and ankle conditions, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, all potentially related to Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran was not afforded VA examinations due to his inability to report for scheduled exams.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, right ear hearing loss, hypertension, and eczematous dermatitis are all rated at their maximum levels. The claims for increased ratings are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable prior to November 30, 2015. The Board has granted a TDIU for this period.

Service connection for left wrist strain is granted. A rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD and a rating in excess of 20 percent for cervical spine disability are denied. The Veteran's hypertension remains at the minimum compensable rating.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral elbow disorder, including carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's bilateral elbow disorder to include CTS is related to or caused by active service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been withdrawn. The Board has remanded the issues of bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, DJD right knee, and DJD left knee to allow for further development.

The Board is remanding several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, gastrointestinal disability, and migraine headaches. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed due to new evidence added after the May 2015 SOC.