Wrist & hand Board decisions

Service connection for ulcerative colitis is granted. The Veteran's sleep apnea is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his current disability picture.

The Board denied service connection for vertigo, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were caused by or aggravated by service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from caring for some of his daily personal needs and rendered him unable to protect himself from the hazards or dangers incident to his daily environment. The Board finds that an effective date of October 14, 2011 is warranted for the grant of SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to the need for a VA examination and medical opinion regarding the etiology of his elbow and hand disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied service connection claim for hypertension and granted service connection. Service connection was also granted for polyneuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome of both upper extremities, which are related to his service-connected diabetes.

Service connection is granted for arthritis and DDD of the lumbar spine, but service connection for CTS is remanded. A rating in excess of 10 percent for pain related to the scar, residual removal of cyst, is denied.

The Board denied service connection for low back, left arm, and right-hand disorders, finding that the current diagnoses are not related to service or any in-service injury.

The Board has granted effective dates of June 24, 2011 for the Veteran's service-connected left carpal tunnel syndrome, right carpal tunnel syndrome, emphysema/COPD, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The issues related to an increased rating for emphysema/COPD are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected vertigo is granted, with the Board finding that his current diagnosis of chronic vertigo is related to exposure to contaminants in the water at Camp Lejeune during service.,Service connection for a respiratory disability (to include asthma and COPD), heart disability, hypertension, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome are remanded due to lack of medical evidence addressing these claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome and GERD, but has remanded these issues due to insufficient evidence. The hearing loss issue is also being remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that these conditions are related to his active military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and requests for additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various eye, sinus, carpal tunnel syndrome, lower extremity, gastrointestinal, and IBS disorders due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any diagnosed low back, left knee, right knee, or bilateral hearing loss disabilities. The Veteran has not provided evidence of current diagnoses for these conditions.,Service connection is denied as there is no medical evidence linking the Veteran’s current low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities to his service.

The Veteran's hypertension, esophageal condition, kidney stones, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), and right wrist CTS were not shown to be related to service.,There is no evidence of these conditions during or immediately after service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of the scars and left-hand neuropathy have been denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support higher ratings.,The claim to reopen a service connection for a left leg disorder has been granted, but the issue remains pending as it is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right wrist disorder as there is no evidence of any injury or disease during service, and the current condition was not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's hemorrhoids are granted as service connected. The Board found that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of hemorrhoids and that her condition began during active service, resolving all reasonable doubt in her favor.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back and right wrist disabilities. However, the claim of service connection for a sleep disability secondary to his service-connected back disability is remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for Meniere’s disease, headaches, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome of the right and/or left wrists, and an increased rating for sleep apnea with asthma due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran must be provided with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.