Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for various equipment purchases/home modifications under the vocational rehabilitation independent living plan is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and updated independent living assessment.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and neurological disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's scar of the right forearm, wrist, and hand is rated at 20 percent since March 16, 2017.,The Veteran's scars on his left forearm, wrist, and hand are currently rated as 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and left wrist condition, finding that the Veteran's back condition is not related to his military service. The right knee and left knee disabilities were also found to be unrelated to service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's right wrist and hemorrhoids conditions did not warrant a higher rating, while his erectile dysfunction was rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's left shoulder disorder is not related to service, as there are no records of treatment or complaints during service and the condition was first noted years after separation.,The Veteran's right wrist disability does not warrant a higher initial rating at any point since the grant of service connection.

The Veteran seeks earlier effective dates for service connection for peripheral neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome of the upper extremities, as well as for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The Board has determined that the earliest date on which these claims could be granted is based on when the Veteran first submitted a claim to VA.,The Veteran's original claim was denied in July 1978 and October 1994, but both decisions became final as the Veteran did not file timely notices of disagreement or submit new and material evidence within one year. The claims were reopened in August 1996 for upper extremities and November 2002 for lower extremities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine, right wrist and hand, and right arm disabilities were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal as he is no longer alive.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left wrist disability due to further development and examination being required.

The Veteran's use of wrist braces to treat his service-connected right and left wrist disabilities tends to wear and tear his clothing, and he is entitled to a clothing allowance for 2014 due to the use of a right wrist brace and left wrist brace.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination to assess his neurological manifestations of the service-connected left wrist disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and therefore the criteria for a TDIU have not been met.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to assess the Veteran's right wrist and bilateral foot conditions, as his service treatment records are unavailable due to a fire at the National Personnel Records Center. The appeal for these issues is REMANDED.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of both upper extremities is related to his military service and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's left wrist ganglion cysts are related to service, and his left ankle disability is currently rated at the highest possible rating based on marked limitation of motion.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations. The right wrist and neck disorders were not incurred in service, but are considered direct service-connected.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is rated at 60 percent, effective September 2, 2014. The scars are rated as 10 percent disabling.