Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran was seen for complaints of headaches following a head injury in service and has presented competent and credible evidence that those headaches have persisted since service.,It is as likely as not that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the conditions did not have onset in active service or are otherwise unrelated to service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional VA examination and medical opinion, as well as to obtain outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his right wrist disability, and referring the case to the Director of Compensation for an extraschedular TDIU determination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left wrist disability and obtaining outstanding relevant VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle, right wrist, and left wrist disabilities due to insufficient reasons and bases in the previous decision. The Veteran must be afforded VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical strain, lumbar strain, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, and right carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service connection claims for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board has determined that a hearing should be scheduled at the earliest opportunity.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including an updated examination to assess the severity of his depressive disorder with anxiety and asthma/COPD. His TDIU claim prior to July 2009 remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and further medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing left knee and right wrist conditions did not undergo an increase in severity during service, and thus cannot be considered aggravated. As a result, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for clarification of the effective dates assigned for his service-connected carpal tunnel syndrome ratings.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, a right wrist fracture with arthritis, and left knee strain (left knee mechanical derangement) were incurred or aggravated by service.,Service connection for currently diagnosed conditions of the lumbar spine, right wrist, and left knee are granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, a pulmonary condition, gout, degenerative arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and metabolic syndrome. The Board also found that there is no evidence of chemical exposure or TCE exposure to support these claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's right wrist disability did not have its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to service. The Veteran was denied entitlement to service connection for a right wrist disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for adjustment disorder with depression was denied, as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating. The Veteran's right wrist condition remains unconnected to service.

Service connection has been established for degenerative joint disease of the bilateral wrists.,A 30 percent rating is granted for chronic sinusitis from December 21, 2010. The Veteran's symptoms include more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left wrist disability. The claim will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome has been manifested by pain, numbness, and tingling resulting in decreased functional capacity only after prolonged use. The disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 8515 for mild incomplete paralysis of the median nerve.