Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, nerve condition in the left arm to include in the left wrist, bilateral shoulder disability, and bilateral knee disability were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service-connected healed scar on the left wrist is currently rated at 10 percent, and a higher rating is denied as there are no additional disabling effects not already covered by the current rating.

The Board has granted service connection for right wrist arthritis and denied service connection for residuals of a human bite to the right hand/wrist, including HIV, as well as left shoulder disorder. The cervical spine disorder claim is not before the Board.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent effective February 4, 2015. The cervical spine disability is rated at 50 percent effective that date.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of right ear hearing loss for VA purposes.,There is no competent evidence linking the current left wrist strain to service.

The Board has determined that the November 18, 2008 rating decision contained clear and unmistakable error in failing to assign a separate 20 percent evaluation for residuals of gunshot wound, Muscle Group XX. The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease with peritoneal adhesions is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's hypertension, migraines, and other service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating or extraschedular evaluation. The Board denied his claim of entitlement to TDIU prior to September 10, 2010.

The Board found that the Veteran's scar on back of left hand and burn scar on left wrist were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claims for headaches, hypertension, and bilateral knee condition are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left wrist disability is not related to service and arthritis did not manifest within a year of discharge. As such, the claim for service connection for a left wrist disability is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for CTS of the right and left upper extremities, as well as hypertension, were denied. The conditions are currently rated at their lowest possible non-compensable levels.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his left wrist disability is denied as the current 10 percent rating adequately reflects the functional impairment due to pain, weakness, and fatigability without ankylosis or limitation of motion affecting two major joints.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of CTS in his left wrist or a pinched nerve in his left elbow, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome was rated at 50 percent prior to April 13, 2016 and increased to 70 percent from that date. The Board also granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome is related to active duty service and granted service connection for this condition. The issues of left carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral hearing loss associated with punctured left ear drum, and residuals of punctured left ear drum are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and left carpal tunnel syndrome. The Veteran's current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for a service-connected disability in all cases.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent from October 1, 2006 through June 14, 2016 and at 70 percent from June 15, 2016. The TDIU rating is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral wrist disability is not related to service, as there is no evidence of a current left or right wrist condition during service and no medical opinion linking his current carpal tunnel syndrome to service.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's current left hip disability and service.

The Veteran's scar of the left wrist is not deep or painful, and it does not cause limitation of motion or other disabling effects. The criteria for a compensable initial rating for a left wrist scar have not been met.

The Veteran's combined rating for service connected disabilities was sufficient to meet the criteria for a TDIU as of May 14, 2010. The Board found that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that there is not sufficient evidence to establish service connection for a neurological disorder of the bilateral upper extremities or peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, as these conditions are not shown to be related to active service.