Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for diabetes, hypertension, sarcoidosis, a lumbar spine disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and rheumatoid arthritis. The Board found no evidence that these conditions began during or were caused by his active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to care for most of his daily personal needs or to protect himself from the hazards and dangers incident to his daily environment without the assistance of others, warranting SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his service-connected right wrist fracture, a temporary total rating based on convalescence following surgery, and a TDIU have been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral vestibular disease (vertigo) and denied service connection for fibromyalgia and chronic disability of the fallopian tubes. Service connection was also granted for ovarian cysts.

The Veteran's surgery for right ulnar nerve decompression with subcutaneous transposition on September 8, 2008 necessitated at least three months of convalescence and resulted in the necessity for continued use of a hand cast. The Board has granted a temporary total rating under 38 C.F.R. § 4.30 from September 8, 2008 to December 7, 2008.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ensure a complete record and fair evaluation of the Veteran's claims. Specifically, new examinations are required for her lumbar spine, left knee, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome disabilities, as well as obtaining any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that new and material evidence was not received to reopen his left shoulder disability claim. The Veteran's hearing loss and knee disabilities were also denied. His right shoulder disability was rated at 20 percent, and his skin and wrist conditions did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left elbow painful motion with traumatic arthritis warrants a rating of 20 percent, effective June 20, 2014. The claim for an increased rating for left wrist traumatic arthritis is denied.

The Veteran's numbness of the right and left hands, possibly secondary to early carpal tunnel syndrome, has been rated as mild incomplete paralysis prior to December 20, 2016. Since then, it has been rated as moderate incomplete paralysis.,There is no evidence that the Veteran's condition meets or approximates the criteria for a higher rating since December 20, 2016.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, which is the maximum rating under Diagnostic Code 5215. The Board finds that in the absence of ankylosis, the preponderance of the evidence does not support a higher rating.,From October 24, 2017, the Veteran's disability picture is consistent with 'loss of use' of the right hand, warranting SMC(k) based on anatomical loss or 'loss of use'. The Board grants this claim.

For the entire rating period on appeal from June 8, 2011, the Veteran's left wrist disability has been manifested by symptoms of painful motion and stiffness without ankylosis. The evidence does not support a higher rating under any other diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been rated appropriately based on the severity of his symptoms and medical evidence provided.

The Veteran's service-connected back, left knee, and bilateral wrist disabilities require the use of braces that tend to wear or tear two distinct types of articles of clothing. The Board has determined that he is entitled to two clothing allowances for 2014.

The Board has granted service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that they are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's service-connected right hand peripheral neuropathy and degenerative joint disease of the right wrist have been granted a 30 percent evaluation, effective June 28, 2012. The Board also found that he is not entitled to TDIU for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain service department records and other pertinent medical records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for residuals of a back injury, muscle contraction headaches, headache disorder (including migraine headaches), elbow and forearm disorder, wrist and hand disorder, bilateral hip disorder, bilateral foot disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, sleep apnea, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for service connection in any of these cases.

The Veteran's left wrist disability, which resulted in a surgical immobilization (fusion) of the joint, is rated at 30 percent since March 1, 2013. The evidence shows that his range of motion was limited to zero degrees in both palmar and dorsiflexion as of November 19, 2013, meeting the criteria for a 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5214.

The Veteran is currently service-connected for migraine headaches, major depressive disorder, right wrist disorder, and sinusitis. The combined rating for these conditions from July 10, 2006 to May 5, 2014 is 70 percent.,Prior to July 10, 2006, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU. However, she has been unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to her service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including referral to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU on account of his service-connected left wrist disability.