Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the current existence of the Veteran's claimed disabilities and their etiology. The appeal will be remanded for such development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral elbow condition, right hip condition and right wrist condition are related to her active duty service.,Service connection is granted for all three conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA medical opinion to address whether any preexisting left upper extremity disability, including from the December 3,1985 service treatment record reference to injury of the left wrist and/or from the October 2007 injury, was aggravated by the period of ACDUTRA from July 9, 2010 to July 24, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not of such severity as to preclude substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience during the appeal period.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment throughout the appeal period, except for a brief period when he was assigned a combined disability rating of 100 percent. The effective date for the TDIU is January 16, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left wrist sprain with hyperflexion injury and secondary ulnar nerve damage, as well as his back disorder. These conditions are considered to be directly related to his military service.

The Board denied initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for left and right carpal tunnel syndrome, but granted a TDIU rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding records and further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (headaches and degenerative arthritis of the right wrist) are found to be so severe that they prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right hand disorders (degenerative joint disease and carpal tunnel syndrome) are not related to his service, including an in-service injury. The preponderance of evidence is against a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent rating, but no higher. The Board finds the Veteran entitled to at least a 70 percent rating for his PTSD.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to increased ratings and service connection.,The Veteran also withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent for IBS and GERD, chronic fatigue syndrome, allergic skin reaction, insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, migraines, respiratory disability, nerve entrapment (left elbow), and radiating pain to the left wrist (ulnar entrapment).

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a right wrist, hand, or thumb disability has been reopened. The appeal is mixed as the Veteran was granted an increased rating for PTSD but denied service connection for his claimed wrist condition.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder strain, right wrist strain, and right ankle strain are related to his military service.,Service connection is granted for a right shoulder condition/right shoulder strain, a right wrist condition/right wrist sprain, and a right ankle condition/right ankle strain.

The Veteran's service-connected right wrist condition, post-carpal tunnel release surgery, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his symptoms do not warrant more than mild incomplete paralysis of the median nerve.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis are proximately due to his service-connected left elbow strain with olecranon spur, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and is not proximately due to a service-connected disability. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Veteran does not have established right ulnar or shoulder disability, and the Board finds no evidence of such disabilities during service. Right wrist CTS is established.,Right cervical spine disability has not been established as incurred in service.