Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issues of a rating in excess of 40 percent for right wrist disability and entitlement to TDIU are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a left wrist disability and remanded the issue of an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Court vacated and remanded the claim for service connection for a left wrist disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Veteran was not granted any new or additional benefits.

The Veteran's cervical degenerative joint disease has been rated at 20 percent since January 6, 2009. The Board found that the disability did not meet criteria for a higher rating prior to this date.

The Veteran's left wrist disability, including a fracture and associated scars, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board found no basis to grant a higher rating as the evidence did not show ankylosis or other factors warranting a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist and hand disorders. This includes obtaining medical records, clarifying diagnoses, and determining if any preexisting conditions were aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's left wrist disability, characterized by pain and limited motion, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed cervical spine, back, left knee, and right wrist disorders did not have their onset during active duty service or are related to such service. The Veteran's headaches were also not linked to his military service.

The Veteran's left wrist disability has been rated as 10 percent disabling since February 4, 2003. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating or entitlement to TDIU based on this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his conditions do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain additional medical records and employment information, and for a VA examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that an additional remand is necessary due to the need for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims file, including obtaining addendum opinions from appropriate medical professionals.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability is proximately due to his service-connected right ankle disability. The claims for service connection for a right wrist and right knee disabilities are granted as secondary to their respective service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD with bipolar disorder was granted, and an initial disability rating of 70 percent was assigned.

The Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome has been granted a 10 percent rating effective July 11, 2007.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and carpal tunnel syndrome as secondary to diabetes mellitus due to lack of exposure to herbicides during service and because there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma has been reopened and granted. The Veteran is currently rated at 50 percent for sinusitis and pansinusitis, the maximum rating allowed under Diagnostic Code 6510. A separate 10 percent rating for allergic rhinitis was granted effective December 8, 2015.

The Board has determined that there was clear and unmistakable error in the October 1970 rating decision, which denied service connection for scar residuals. The effective date of November 18, 1969 is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected right elbow strain with limitation of pronation of right forearm and residuals of right hand and wrist injury has been found to present marked interference with employment, warranting an extra-schedular evaluation analogous to a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran does not have a cervical spine disorder that was caused by his service, or that was caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's right (major) radial nerve palsy and medial nerve impairment, carpal tunnel syndrome is shown to be productive of complaints of pain, weakness, and numbness, but not more than moderate incomplete paralysis, neuritis, or neuralgia.,The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound (SFW) of the right (major) arm, Muscle Group VI is shown to be productive of complaints of pain, and some decreased sensation, but not more than a moderate muscle injury.