Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to incomplete information and need for additional development, including an addendum opinion considering the Veteran's current enrollment in a vocational rehabilitation program.

The Veteran's appeal of the right wrist disability claim has been withdrawn. The left foot disability issue is being remanded for additional development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome met the criteria for a 40 percent disability rating from June 18, 2009, to March 23, 2016. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether the right and left carpal tunnel syndromes were manifested by moderate incomplete paralysis of the lower radicular group during this period.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left wrist disability is being remanded due to the need for further development, including an examination by a medical doctor who has not previously examined him in conjunction with this claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine, left shoulder, right wrist, and bilateral knee disabilities are not related to service.,Regarding GERD and hiatal hernia, the evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a left wrist disability and erectile dysfunction, finding no evidence of current disabilities or a causal relationship to service-connected conditions.,Specifically, the Veteran's left wrist degenerative joint disease was not found to be proximately due to his service-connected right wrist condition. His erectile dysfunction was also not found to be caused by medications for his service-connected migraines and other conditions.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, left knee disability, allergies, and tinnitus have all been granted. The conditions are found to be related to service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent prior to September 29, 2016 and at 40 percent thereafter. His left shoulder disability was rated at 20 percent prior to September 29, 2016 and at 30 percent thereafter for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist. The Veteran's claims were denied as his conditions did not warrant higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and updated treatment records. The right wrist disability, including any associated neurological manifestations, will be evaluated.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of current disability for these conditions as defined by VA standards. For his right hand condition with carpal tunnel, the Board finds in favor of the Veteran based on credible lay statements regarding the onset and continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding his knee disabilities. A right wrist examination will also be conducted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right wrist disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including atrial fibrillation, left ear hearing loss, low back disability, GERD, wrist and shoulder disabilities, and vertigo have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a sinus disorder and chronic disability manifested by left arm pain, finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated in service. The claim for an increased rating for asthma was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left wrist disorders are being remanded due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all outstanding records, provide the Veteran with adequate VA medical opinions, and readjudicate the claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection of bilateral knee disability, right wrist disability, DDD of the cervical spine, and right 5th finger disability. The evidence received since the July 1997 rating decision is new and material, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for all issues related to right knee, lumbar spine, residuals of right wrist fracture, and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine proper disability ratings and service connection.

The Veteran's right ankle disorder, sinus disorder (including sinusitis), heart disorder, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, eye disorder, skin disorder of the feet, upper extremities disorder (manifested by swelling, pain in joints, cramping, and tightness), bilateral or unilateral wrist disorder, disorder of bilateral or unilateral hands and fingers, and hearing loss are all granted as they were incurred in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.