Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and left wrist disability are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of her conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right wrist, neck, and low back disabilities are not service-connected as they were not shown to be incurred or aggravated during his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate opinions in the July 2015 VA examination and failure to provide an opinion regarding whether any right hand disability is related to service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine or aggravated by it.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neurological disorder manifested by pain, numbness, and tingling to include polyneuropathy, radiculopathy, and carpal tunnel syndrome, claimed as due to cold weather exposure. The evidence did not support a finding of a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome, left elbow disability, and left shoulder disability are not service connected.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis for left hand arthritis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a videoconference hearing regarding the right wrist disorder and an SOC on the right knee rating claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and providing addendum opinions from VA examiners.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a personal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge. The issues include reopening claims for various conditions, but the status of some claims and service connection theory are unknown.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back, left ribs region, left ankle, and right wrist disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The VA examinations did not find a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD prevented her from securing and following any substantially gainful employment from October 1995 to March 14, 1997.

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities is 60 percent from February 24, 2014. The Board finds that referral for extraschedular consideration for the period since June 2009 is not warranted as the Veteran is capable of performing the physical and mental acts required by sedentary jobs.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches and bruxism/ TMJ disorder manifested during his military service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, a psychiatric disability (depression), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been denied. The claim for service connection for loss of memory has also been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD is pending as additional development is needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current disabilities, including residuals of mild decompression syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, and peripheral neuropathy, are not related to his service. The Veteran's right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis is considered a separate issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is secondary to his service-connected Type 2 diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right hand disability, diagnosed as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) and/or cellulitis, is at least in equipoise with service connection due to its onset during his military service or being proximately caused by or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is not related to military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his pulmonary condition and multiple musculoskeletal issues, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since September 17, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for periodontitis has been granted, as the evidence shows that his exposure to herbicides in Vietnam is presumed. The claims for other conditions have also been reopened and are pending further review.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for peptic ulcer disease, degenerative joint disease of the right wrist, and residuals of right wrist radial nerve damage are being remanded due to a lack of proper notice regarding VA examinations.