Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for right wrist and left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the symptoms are related to active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating of 40 percent for left carpal tunnel syndrome with thenar eminence atrophy is granted. The issue of service connection for cervical spine disability is remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether it is related to slamming his head against the driver’s door window during his in-service car accident.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and increased rating claims. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the increased ratings still on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for partial blindness is dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sporadic progressive deteriorating cerebellum ataxia with speech problems, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right and left hands have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board found that the Veteran's dorsal right wrist discomfort, which resulted from a ganglion cystectomy, was aggravated by his military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition, bilateral elbow condition, bilateral wrist condition, and neck condition.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA examination due to his contention that his condition has worsened since the last evaluation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for neck disability, low back disability, right hip DJD with limitation of flexion, and left wrist fracture. The cases are remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his right wrist sprain and osteoarthritis was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show ankylosis, which would warrant a higher rating under DC 5214. For TDIU, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities were deemed to be insufficient to preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's headaches are granted a 10 percent rating prior to August 8, 2013 and denied any higher. For the period beginning August 8, 2013, he is granted a 30 percent rating for his headaches. The Veteran's bipolar disorder is granted a 70 percent rating prior to May 4, 2013 and a 100 percent rating from that date forward.

The Veteran's service-connected back, left and right knees, and right wrist conditions have changed in severity since his VA examination of March 2012. The Board finds that a new VA examination is necessary to decide the increased rating claims for these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals on all issues related to service connection for GERD, bilateral knee pain, and bilateral ankle pain. Service connection is granted for cervical spine disability (neck pain) but denied for lumbar spine disability, bilateral hand and finger pain, wrist pain, elbow pain, hip pain, and shoulder pain.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for bilateral elbow disability and right wrist disability due to incomplete development. The Veteran's outstanding medical records need to be retrieved, and a VA addendum opinion is required.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right carpal tunnel syndrome as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right wrist, right ankle, and first metatarsophalangeal joint conditions have been denied.,His claim for a higher rating for pleuritic chest pain with pleural adhesions, chronic bronchitis, and COPD has also been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations to assess his service-connected disabilities, including a left foot condition and GERD. The Veteran also has multiple issues related to his cervical spine, lumbar spine, right wrist, knees, hips, and feet.

The Board has remanded the claims for right shoulder, right hand and wrist, left wrist, shortness of breath, stomach disability, and dizziness and headaches as they are not fully informed due to lack of medical opinions linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to missing military records from his National Guard service period. The case will be returned for further development and readjudication.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various upper and lower extremity disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss. The VA will need to schedule updated examinations that take into account the Veteran’s STRs.