Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and to determine the appropriate evaluations for his service-connected knee conditions, right shoulder disability, and right wrist disability. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment outside of a protected environment, given his occupational experience and educational background. With resolution of reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor, the criteria for entitlement to TDIU have been met.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a sleep disorder, bilateral hand disorder, or bilateral wrist disorder in service and could not establish service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for right ulnar nerve palsy, myositis, and carpal tunnel syndrome. The claim to reopen service connection for a nervous condition was also granted.

The Veteran's right ankle disability has been rated as 10 percent disabling throughout the appeal period. The evidence does not show a marked limitation of motion, which is required for a higher rating. For TDIU, the Veteran's combined service-connected disability rating was found to be less than 60% and he did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU based on his education and work experience.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for arthritis of the right wrist has been denied as his condition does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for hemorrhoids and granted a noncompensable rating for right wrist DJD prior to July 18, 2013. The Board also granted a 10 percent rating thereafter. The appellant's right wrist DJD is currently rated as the maximum available under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to consider whether an extraschedular evaluation is warranted for the Veteran's right wrist disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right wrist and bilateral shoulder disabilities, as well as his PTSD claim, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an evaluation in excess of the currently assigned ratings.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral wrist disorder, diagnosed as bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, is related to his active service and granted service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his right femur fracture was not caused by carelessness or negligence on the part of VA medical facility. The Board also found no evidence supporting a claim under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including obtaining any outstanding treatment records and providing new VA examinations.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the left wrist is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5215.,The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 10 percent based on symptoms of pyrosis and regurgitation.

The Veteran's chronic left wrist sprain is found to be related to his service, and he has been granted service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD and depression) remains pending.

The Veteran's right wrist degenerative joint disease is granted as service connected because there is a credible continuity of symptoms since his period of active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral knee replacements and other conditions such as anxiety disorder, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board grants the TDIU claim.

The Board has granted service connection for right wrist sprain, tenosynovitis, and degenerative changes as these conditions are considered to have started during the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and VA examinations. The issues of rating his service-connected lumbar strain and right wrist cyst are still pending.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disorder, right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, and left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome. The Veteran's claims were not based on presumptive exposure to environmental factors or the PACT Act.