Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a wrist disability was denied as he does not have a chronic wrist disability.,The Veteran's claim for COPD was denied as the evidence did not establish a link between his in-service exposure and his current condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of various disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine whether the Veteran's current left wrist and hand disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left ring finger disability, including any additional disability sustained due to May 2012 treatment.

The Board has granted the appeals to reopen service connection for PTSD and vaccine reaction residuals. The appeal for service connection of a right wrist or arm disability, residuals of a vaccine reaction in service (other than psychiatric disabilities), and an acquired psychiatric disability is remanded due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The remaining claims for upper back/bilateral shoulder pain, bilateral foot pain, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist, and poor circulation of the lower extremities are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and PTSD have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.,For the issue of a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, the Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for such a rating based on his current symptomatology.

The Board denied service connection and compensation ratings for various disabilities, including upper respiratory, left shoulder, right wrist, bilateral ankle, hearing loss, cystitis, and foot scars. The decision also found that the Veteran's current cystitis is in remission.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The petition to reopen a claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the low back is granted.,The petition to reopen a claim for degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the left wrist is granted.,Entitlement to service connection for DJD of the right wrist is granted.,Entitlement to service connection for DJD of the left wrist is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected tension headaches, right carpal tunnel syndrome, PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder have been granted initial disability ratings of 30 percent each. The Veteran also received a TDIU due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including back disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral hand disability (including CTS), and bilateral lower extremity disability (including neuropathy and radiculopathy) as the evidence did not show a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, right shoulder disability, and right elbow disability due to the need for additional development. Specifically, a new VA examination is required to assess the current level of severity of the service-connected right wrist condition and whether any right shoulder or right elbow disabilities are secondary to the service-connected right wrist disability.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. As a result, the Board dismissed these issues.

The Veteran's arthritis of the right thumb and CTS of the right upper extremity are granted secondary to his service-connected right hand disability.,A rating higher than 20 percent for status post trauma, right hand with secondary bony bossing of the proximal index metacarpal is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete records and requests for additional evidence.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine strain claim is remanded due to inadequate examination. His GERD and carpal tunnel syndrome claims are not addressed as they were not part of the original appeal.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for right hand carpal tunnel syndrome beginning April 11, 2013. The Veteran's neck injury and left hand carpal tunnel are remanded for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current right wrist symptoms are related to his service. The Veteran needs to provide VA treatment records and complete a VA Form 21-4142 for any private treatment records.

The Veteran's trigger finger s/p flexor tenosynovectomy with scar is currently evaluated as 0 percent disabling. The Board finds that a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 5229 is not warranted due to lack of evidence of limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.