Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for various disabilities, including a right elbow disability, back disability, hand disorder, hearing loss, headaches, swollen glands, female problems and menstrual disorders, abdominal pain (residuals of hysterectomy), hypertension, left arm pain, right arm pain, left wrist pain, right hand pain, left knee pain, right knee pain, and bilateral foot disorder. The claims are being remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and bilateral foot disabilities due to ionizing radiation. The evidence now shows a link between these conditions and the Veteran's service.

The Veteran's bilateral wrist disability is service-connected and granted.,For the back disability, a rating in excess of 20 percent before April 24, 2014 and since April 24, 2014 has not been met. For the right leg radiculopathy, a compensable rating has not been met. For the left knee and right knee disabilities, a compensable rating has not been met. For the left ankle disability, a rating in excess of 10 percent from May 14, 2014 to May 15, 2017 and since May 16, 2017 has not been met. For the right ankle disability, a compensable rating has not been met. For the migraine headache disability, a rating in excess of 10 percent has not been met.

The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome and mild medial nerve entrapment of the right side are not etiologically related to her active military service or a service-connected disability, resulting in denial of service connection.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and development are necessary before the claims can be decided on their merits.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, an eye disability, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome of the hands and wrists. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran's cervical spine, bilateral CTS, and left knee disabilities are related to her military service. The appeal is being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the Veteran's ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to her service-connected disabilities. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his right wrist degenerative joint disease with nodule was granted, but the current appeal is about whether he should receive an increased rating from 10% to 40%. The VA found that as of September 9, 2013, the Veteran has ankylosis in any position (favorable) and thus warrants a 40% rating.

The Veteran's chronic residuals of hepatitis C have been granted service connection as a result of his in-service combat exposure to blood and enemy contact.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been established based on the Veteran's in-service exposure to acoustic trauma during combat, resulting from artillery fire and explosions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral wrist and knee disorders have been dismissed due to the Veteran's request to terminate his appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion and readjudicating the claim. The Veteran's claim of service connection for neurological disabilities of the bilateral upper extremities remains pending.

The Veteran's initial claims for higher ratings for his right knee, left knee, and right elbow disabilities were denied. The claim for a compensable rating for his right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome prior to May 10, 2016 was also denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right wrist disability, including a wrist contusion or sprain and history of severe laceration, is not causally related to his in-service injury. The preponderance of evidence does not support this finding.

The Board found that the Veteran's right thumb disability and associated scars were not incurred or aggravated by service, as her pre-existing conditions existed prior to service. The current disabilities are considered a result of a 1992 surgical procedure unrelated to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not competent to manage his VA benefit payments.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the relationship between his current respiratory conditions and service, as well as whether his bilateral hand/wrist disability is related to service or secondary to a cervical spine disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disorders are not related to his active service or are due to a nonservice-connected condition, and thus, denied all of his claims.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus disability is rated at 50% effective September 21, 2016. The maximum rating for this condition has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right wrist DJD, carpal tunnel syndrome, and right shoulder disability are not service-connected as they are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to an in-service event, injury, or disease.