Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right hand arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome are related to his service-connected post-operative residuals. The VA needs to provide updated treatment records and a comprehensive medical examination.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not prevent her from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus the claim for Individual Unemployability (TDIU) was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current disability for the claimed left wrist and hand, low back, knee, headaches, tinnitus, or bilateral hearing loss disabilities. As such, service connection cannot be granted.,VA examinations were scheduled but not conducted due to the Veteran's failure to report. The opinion regarding her tinnitus was also obtained from 'LHI' on May 1, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal regarding an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for nonunion of the right scaphoid with arthritis of the right wrist was dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran's representative. The Board also remanded issues related to service connection for a low back disorder and an increased evaluation for anxiety disorder and depression.

The Board has dismissed the claim of service connection for low back condition as the Veteran withdrew his appeal. The TDIU claim was denied because the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for low back condition as the Veteran withdrew his appeal. The TDIU claim was denied because the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and migraine headaches, do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied service connection for a positive PPD skin test, finding no evidence of tuberculosis. The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and folliculitis.,Right wrist pain remains under review due to remand.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding ratings for left wrist ganglion cyst post-operative, right wrist ganglion cyst, and left ankle fracture. The remaining issues of a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with chondromalacia (left knee disability), a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee chrondromalacia (right knee disability), and a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease (DJD) are remanded.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the merits of the Veteran's claims, including Social Security Administration records and VA treatment records. The Veteran should also be scheduled for examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD with TBI, traumatic arthritis, right ankle disability with scar, and other disabilities.

The Veteran's left wrist synovitis associated with gout is currently rated at 10 percent, and a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of evidence of ankylosis.,The Veteran's right wrist synovitis associated with gout is currently rated at 10 percent, and a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of evidence of ankylosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple disabilities are being remanded due to the need for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's residual scars from a left wrist ganglion cyst excision are granted a 10 percent disability rating, effective as of the date of the decision.

The Veteran's appeal is denied for increased ratings for various service-connected conditions, including left shoulder tendonitis, lateral epicondylitis of the elbow, limited wrist motion due to elbow condition, post-operative thumb disability, glaucoma and aphakia of the eye, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. Effective dates are established or remanded as appropriate.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of both lower extremities as defined by VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of both lower extremities as defined by VA regulations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased rating, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his records. The low back disability claim is also being reopened.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and sleep apnea, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as he retained significant capacity for substantially gainful employment prior to April 20, 2017.

The Board found clear and unmistakable error in the March 2009 rating decision that terminated TDIU benefits due to fraud, as the RO did not properly apply the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.343(c) regarding actual employability.