Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right wrist disability related to service or any preexisting condition. The claim for sleep apnea is remanded as it was not fully addressed in the March 2015 decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran's joint pain affecting his back, neck, shoulders, arms, elbows, wrists, hands/fingers, and hips has been attributed to clinical diagnoses including DDD and DJD of the lumbar spine with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, DDD and DJD of the cervical spine with bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, bilateral shoulder, arm, hand and finger tendonitis, and chronic bilateral wrist sprain. The Veteran's disabilities affecting his back, neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hands/fingers, hips, and legs did not originate in service or within a year of service, and are not otherwise etiologically related to the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his service-connected left index finger disability and his current left wrist condition, as well as to consider whether a higher rating for his service-connected left index finger disability is warranted on an extra-schedular basis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and legal analysis, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and conducting specialized examinations to determine the nature of his current disabilities and their relationship to the February 2004 VA examination.

The Veteran is unemployable due to service-connected disability, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on his combined rating of 60% for PTSD, left hand disability, and left wrist disability.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for right wrist disability is granted, with a noncompensable evaluation.,The Veteran's compensable scars from the right leg are maintained. The current evidence does not support an increase in the rating.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen service connection for PTSD and left ankle disorder. These claims are remanded for further review.,Service connection is granted for PTSD, trichotillomania, and asthma due to Agent Orange exposure and smoke inhalation.,The Veteran's heart condition and spinal disorder have not been established as service-connected.,The Veteran's dental disorders do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right wrist disability warrants a separate 40 percent evaluation for ulnar and median nerve involvement, but not higher.

The Veteran's right wrist disability, characterized by postoperative residuals of a fracture with degenerative changes and painful surgical scars, is currently rated at 10 percent under the appropriate diagnostic codes. The Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his current level of impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to changes in his employment situation and the need for a new VA examination assessing the functional impairment caused by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection, and TDIU due to deficiencies in the examinations provided. The Veteran needs a new VA examination for his left shoulder disability and right wrist disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left wrist disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his active military service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all issues on appeal.

The Veteran's combined rating for her service-connected conditions (mood disorder, left hip bursitis, and right wrist tendonitis) is 80 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of unemployability due to these disabilities alone.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome and panic disorder with anxiety.,Service connection is established for both conditions based on their onset during active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, migraine headaches, left shoulder strain with glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis, left elbow strain, right elbow strain, left wrist sprain, right wrist sprain, cervical spine strain, left ankle strain, right ankle strain, and left knee strain with arthritis. The Board found that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.,The Board has granted service connection for right knee strain with arthritis. The Board found that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left wrist sprain and right ankle sprain was received on April 10, 2014. The Board finds that the earliest claim for entitlement to benefits for both a left wrist sprain and a right ankle sprain was received on April 10, 2014.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (to include depression and anxiety), cervical spine disability, hypertension, right knee disability, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and low back disability are all related to his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have residuals of a right wrist injury and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right forearm disability, characterized by symptoms of pain and numbness in her hand and fingers, does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the right hand CTS, left hand CTS, bilateral plantar fasciitis, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and headache disability claims. The pes planus claim was also withdrawn.