Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, sleep apnea, left carpal tunnel syndrome, a neck disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected right carpal tunnel syndrome, tinnitus, and PTSD have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his disabilities. The Board has granted a TDIU effective October 7, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left CTS were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disability, bilateral hips disability, and skin disease due to lack of evidence showing an in-service onset or incurrence.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection for multiple conditions, including right wrist disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, aching joints, right carpal tunnel syndrome, muscle spasms of the legs, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and muscle spasms of the arms.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his right forearm disability and obtaining any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his claim for service connection of a bilateral ankle disability. The Board found that the Veteran does not have any diagnosed disabilities related to his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right wrist injury was previously denied, but new evidence has been submitted raising the possibility that his current condition may be related to an in-service injury. The Board finds sufficient credible evidence to reopen the claim and also finds reasonable doubt in favor of service connection based on the medical opinions provided.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to his request for a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for various disabilities, including a lumbar spine disorder, bilateral foot disorders, shoulder disorders, hand and finger disorders, and tinnitus, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology or a nexus to active duty.

The Board has denied the Veteran's service connection claims for mid-back, left knee, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome disabilities as they are not related to his service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues with obtaining medical records. The Veteran's appeal is currently on hold until these records are obtained and reviewed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for TDIU, but his employment history and current job do not show he is unemployable due to these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left wrist disability, and COPD. The evidence does not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal for the issues listed in the July 2016 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are shown to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis effective December 9, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding it at least as likely as not that the condition began during active duty service. The Veteran's other claims have been denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's anxiety disorder, NOS is causally or etiologically due to service. Bilateral pes planus was noted on her enlistment examination and did not increase in disability during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been granted increased evaluations, with the highest rating of 40 percent for peripheral neuropathy of the left hand.

The Veteran's right and left carpal tunnel syndrome have been rated as 10 percent disabling since the onset of his symptoms, with no higher ratings warranted due to mild incomplete paralysis.