Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether his conditions preclude such employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records, verifying service periods, and scheduling appropriate examinations.

The Board denied reopening of the claims for right knee disability, bilateral wrist disability and bilateral ankle disability. The Veteran's bilateral ankle disability was granted service connection based on degenerative arthritis, but his right knee and bilateral wrist disabilities were not established.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left wrist disability is not service connected and his depressive disorder claim was dismissed due to withdrawal of appeal. The Board also denied secondary service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hand disorders, including carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger fingers, were not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral ankle and wrist disorders, lumbar spine disorder, tinnitus, and somnambulism. The decision found that there was no evidence of chronic or compensable disabilities during service or within one year post-service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities related to his claimed right shoulder, left shoulder, left wrist, index and middle fingers, right knee, right ankle, bilateral foot disorder (including cold injury residuals), or low back disorders. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board grants a TDIU for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's conditions, including diabetes and its related complications, are not service connected. The Board denied the claims for service connection based on lack of evidence showing onset or causation in service.

The Veteran's TBI residuals are granted, but his bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a VA examination to determine if his left wrist disorder is related to service. The Veteran claims he injured his wrist in 1959 during service, but there are conflicting medical records and no definitive evidence of an old injury.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome with ulnar neuropathy, as well as his requests for earlier effective dates and TDIU. The disability was rated at 10 percent prior to December 18, 2006, and at 30 percent beginning that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of his claim for a bilateral ankle disability. The remaining conditions are associated with fibromyalgia.

The Board has remanded the case for further consideration of whether extraschedular evaluations are warranted for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the left and right wrists, considering the entire period of appeal.

The Veteran's right wrist disorder is presumed to have been incurred in service as it existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service.,There is no current diagnosis of a deviated nasal septum or chronic allergies.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral wrist disorders, including carpal tunnel syndrome and left elbow disorders are granted. The Veteran also has been diagnosed with PTSD and his claim is granted on this basis. Service connection is denied for liver disorder and TBI residuals.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hysterectomy residuals, left wrist arthritis, and left shoulder arthritis. The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's right wrist DJD was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may a chronic disorder be presumed to have been so incurred. The Veteran's PTSD is as likely as not related to his period of service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various joint disorders, including arthritis of the shoulders, wrists, hands, knees, and ankles. The Board has determined that further investigation into his pre-existing conditions during military service is necessary.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to be incurred in active service, resulting in a grant of service connection for this condition.