Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left leg disability, a right shoulder disability, and a right arm neurological disability. The Board found no current disabilities and insufficient evidence to support any diagnoses.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease was granted a rating of 60 percent effective June 20, 2012. The Veteran is not entitled to higher ratings for his other conditions.

The Veteran's service connection for left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, posttraumatic stress disorder and depression (PTSD), and right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome has been granted.,Initial ratings of 30 percent, 50 percent, 20 percent, and 40 percent have been assigned for PTSD, carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity, respectively.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's generalized joint disease (to include the elbows, wrists, knees, feet, and hands) is not related to her active duty service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral wrist disability, including ganglion cysts, chronic strain, and carpal tunnel syndrome, was incurred in or is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his left upper extremity neurological disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left arm condition, including his left hand, wrist, and shoulder, is not related to a period of service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the VA examination report and for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and considering whether the Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome should be evaluated under Diagnostic Code 8512.

The Board found that the Veteran's left wrist sprain status post left wrist surgery with surgical scar is manifested by pain and limitation of motion, but no evidence of ankylosis or muscle atrophy. The disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on ankylosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining outstanding medical records. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected and at least as likely as not related to in-service acoustic trauma. For the period prior to February 9, 2012, his right wrist disability warrants a 10% rating based on limitation of motion and arthritis. Since February 9, 2012, no higher ratings are warranted. The Veteran's right fifth finger disability also warrants a 10% rating.

The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected conditions is 90%, meeting the criteria for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left forearm and wrist disability, finding no nexus between his current disabilities and military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his left wrist and foot conditions, have made him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from August 2007 through September 2009. From October 2009 to March 2013 he was able to work but has been unable to do so since April 2013.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis of the elbows were denied. The Board found no evidence to support these claims, as there was no in-service diagnosis or continuity of symptomatology since service. For the other issues, new and material evidence has not been received.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for hypertension, denied service connection for right and left carpal tunnel syndrome as secondary to service-connected disabilities, and denied service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The claims of entitlement to service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral hands and right wrist disability are remanded for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy, including CTS and tardy ulnar palsy, did not have its onset during military service or is otherwise causally related to such service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a nervous condition, now claimed as mental condition/nervousness to include depression, anxiety and sleeping problems. The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are addressed in this decision.