Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's right wrist tendonitis, left wrist tendonitis, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are all rated at a 10 percent effective as of January 14, 2014 for the right wrist tendonitis and September 6, 2013 for the right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.,Service connection is granted for a left knee disability. The Veteran's chronic cough and shortness of breath are not service connected.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the Veteran was not unemployable due to her service-connected disabilities prior to February 21, 2006. The Acting Director of Compensation Services determined that the service-connected conditions did not preclude employment.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death. The remaining issues were not addressed as the appellant has withdrawn them.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating as he has not provided necessary financial information and his combined disability rating is less than 70%.

The Board found that the Veteran's right wrist strain symptoms are not so exceptional or unusual that referral for an extraschedular rating is required, and thus denied the claim.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for his scar, left wrist was granted. His service-connected tendinitis and mild degenerative arthritis of the right and left wrists were each assigned a 10 percent evaluation. The Veteran's bilateral elbow disorder and left knee disorder are not currently service connected. A TDIU was granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hearing loss, right wrist and hand disabilities, tinnitus, and erythema multiforme, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of July 16, 2012.

The Board is remanding the claims for further development and an additional VA examination to address whether any new disabilities are related to VA treatment, including alcohol use.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection have been granted, with the effective date set at October 1, 1997.

The Board has granted the Appellant's claim for special monthly pension (SMP) based on the need for regular aid and attendance, as she requires assistance from her daughter to manage daily activities due to her health conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected left wrist disabilities have approximated loss of use of the left hand, warranting a higher 60 percent rating on an extra-schedular basis and SMC based on consequent loss of use of the left hand.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed bilateral wrist disability and sinusitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral inguinal herniography residuals did not meet the criteria for a 10 percent rating prior to March 19, 2009. From March 19, 2009, there is no legal entitlement to a compensable rating based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's bilateral inguinal herniography residuals have not required at least one month of convalescence or resulted in severe postoperative residuals as per VA regulations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and providing an opinion on the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has raised the Veteran's current evaluation for right wrist instability with degenerative joint disease to a 30 percent rating on an extraschedular basis, and found that a 20 percent rating is warranted for left wrist instability with degenerative joint disease. These ratings are higher than the currently assigned 10 percent ratings.

The Veteran's left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome is rated at 20 percent, the highest available rating for moderate incomplete paralysis of the median nerve. The Board found that her symptoms and functional limitations are consistent with this level of disability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, anemia, and coronary vasospasm. The claims for bilateral knee disability and allergic rhinitis are pending and will be addressed in the remand portion of this decision.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a right wrist fracture are manifested by no more than limitation of motion without ankylosis. The evidence does not support a higher rating or entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, as due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his military service. The August 2002 rating decision denying the Veteran's claim for service connection for a gunshot wound of the left wrist is final. No new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a gunshot wound of the left wrist.