Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's thoracic and lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum allowable rating under the diagnostic criteria. The cervical spine disability is also rated at 10 percent. No other conditions have been granted increased ratings.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU has been remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of new evidence. The case will be returned to the AOJ for readjudication.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a right wrist fracture is denied as there is no evidence that the current condition is related to his military service. For his left knee disability, he was granted a combined rating of 20 percent prior to February 29, 2016.

The Board has remanded the case due to an unavailable EMG study and a need for further examination. The Veteran's right upper extremity disability, including carpal tunnel syndrome, is being evaluated again.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and he has been employed full-time with VA since September 2013.

The Veteran's PTSD with mood disorder has been characterized by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to difficulty in understanding complex commands, impaired judgment, disturbances of motivation and mood. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and vocational experience.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed bilateral wrist, left elbow, and bilateral arm disabilities were not present in service or related to his service. The appeal for these conditions was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's left wrist disability, manifested by painful motion and mild ulnar neuropathy with intermittent radiation of numbness into the fourth and fifth fingers, does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran's left wrist disability, including residuals of a bone graft for nonunion fracture of the left scaphoid with traumatic arthritis, has been rated as 10 percent disabling since July 2006. The Board found that his current range of motion is limited to palmar flexion from zero to five degrees and dorsiflexion from zero to five degrees, corresponding to favorable ankylosis in 20 to 30 degrees dorsiflexion.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II and type I diabetes, bilateral hand disability, low back disability, right knee disability, right hip disability, bilateral wrist disability, and neurological disorder of the lower extremities have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or a link between these conditions and service. The Veteran's claims for increased rating for onychomycosis and dental disorder are dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for antral gastritis and depression, but denied service connection for a bilateral wrist condition. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is considered secondary to his service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's right wrist, ankle, and knee disabilities are found to be related to service. Her acquired psychiatric disorder is also found to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's joint and nerve pain is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected HIV, and therefore, denied all claims for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder and left forearm disorders are granted service connection based on continuity of symptoms since service. The Veteran is also awarded a 30% disability rating for his service-connected left shoulder disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating in any of the issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA examination and additional development of evidence, as the current examination did not address all theories of entitlement and relevant evidence.

The Veteran's left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, cervical spine DDD, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome with partial ACL tear are found to have their onset in service. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.