Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing right wrist injury existed prior to his active duty service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's right wrist DJD was granted a separate initial rating of 10 percent prior to November 6, 2014. The issue remains on appeal for the left knee DJD.

The Board found that the Veteran's right wrist disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not related to his service-connected right index finger fracture. The claim for secondary service connection was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, dizzy spells, chronic memory loss, erectile dysfunction (ED), and intestinal disorder have been granted. The claim for a rating greater than 10 percent for left wrist strain with ganglion remains pending.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral wrist disorder and his claimed undiagnosed illness symptoms, including chronic fatigue, muscle and joint pains, tremors, muscle weakness, dysphagia, and abdominal pains.

The Veteran has a bilateral wrist disability that became manifest during his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations, and is presumed to be due to undiagnosed illness as a result of his military service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of chronic disabilities affecting the right hip, low back, middle finger, ankles, wrists, thumbs, or shoulder during service. The Veteran's current complaints are not supported by objective medical findings and he does not have a currently diagnosed disability for which service connection can be granted.

The Board finds that H.C. was not permanently incapable of self-support by reason of mental or physical defect before the date of attaining the age of 18 years, and therefore does not meet the criteria for recognition as a 'helpless child'.

The Board has ordered the case remanded to the AOJ due to procedural issues, including a VLJ no longer being available. The Veteran is scheduled for a new hearing before the Board.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss, cervical spine disability, a skin disorder of the face and chin, bilateral knee disability, and acquired psychiatric disorders. The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for eczema of the feet was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The effective date of the award of service connection for bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy was set at June 22, 2006.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral tinnitus was granted. The remaining issues are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left wrist peripheral neuropathy have been rated at 20 percent since October 17, 2016. The rating is effective from that date.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including an addendum medical opinion based on new evidence from the Madigan AMC.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for various conditions, including generalized joint pain, right and left knee disorders, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, urinary disorder, warts, neuropathy of the extremities, high blood pressure, and erectile dysfunction. The appeals were decided on a direct service connection basis.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, bilateral hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder disabilities. The Veteran's hypertension was found to have manifested within one year of active service. No current diagnoses were found for the claimed upper extremity conditions related to service or secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate compliance with a Court directive and because of an inaccurate factual basis in the previous VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his current bilateral wrist disabilities and Raynaud's syndrome.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainties regarding the Veteran's service records and potential periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty training (INACDUTRA). The Veteran is requested to provide information about his Reserve service, including any motor vehicle accident on June 8, 1985. Additional medical opinions are needed to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.