Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome is rated at 30 percent, the highest available rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private and VA treatment records, scheduling the Veteran for a VA spine examination, and providing an additional VA examination of the knees, right wrist, and left hand.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the request of the appellant.

The Board finds that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a current disability related to her service or a service-connected condition. The Veteran's neck symptoms are more likely due to her carpal tunnel syndrome and other unrelated conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence, specifically for obtaining service treatment records from Ireland Army Medical Center in Fort Knox, KY. The Veteran's claim is pending and will be reconsidered after this additional information is obtained.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back, left wrist, and left collarbone disabilities are not related to his service-connected knee disorders. The evidence did not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology or direct service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right wrist/hand arthritis did not have its onset in service and is not related to his service-connected conditions. As a result, the claim for service connection for arthritis of the right hand/wrist is denied.

The Board denied service connection for fractures of the left arm and right hand/wrist, as well as venous insufficiency. The evidence did not show a direct link between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's claimed generalized joint and muscle pain has been attributed to known clinical diagnoses, and is not related to undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability. The Board finds that service connection cannot be granted as the symptoms are not due to an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained multisymptom illness.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected right wrist disability does not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, given his educational background, work experience, and current employment status.

The Veteran's left wrist disability is rated at the maximum allowable under current criteria, and he does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The claims for PTSD and migraine headaches are granted with initial ratings of 30 percent each.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to verify his exposure to herbicides in Korea and to schedule VA examinations for the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for new VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected left wrist and low back disabilities.

The Veteran's right wrist condition, including her de Quervain's tenosynovitis and arthritis, is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 80 percent, which meets the criteria for a TDIU. However, the evidence does not support a finding that his service-connected disabilities render him incapable of securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not cause unemployability, and the Board finds that TDIU is not warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for depression on a secondary basis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and lower extremity neuropathy. The Veteran's back condition is rated at 20 percent. TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is found to be related to his service. The right wrist disability claim has been granted.