Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome is currently rated at 50 percent effective January 2, 2014. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and adjudication, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected left wrist fracture and right wrist disorders.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for clarification of the medical opinions provided in September 2014. The Veteran's right wrist, hip, and testicle disabilities are still under review.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral CTS is not related to service or a service-connected condition, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and worker's compensation records. A new VA examination will be conducted to determine the etiology of any current right wrist/hand disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disorder, arthritis of neck and right wrist, back disorder, left ear disorder, and right ear disorder were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining more recent VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between his service-connected right thumb disability and his carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting right wrist and right knee conditions were permanently aggravated by active service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's right CTS was granted an initial rating of 30 percent effective from November 1, 2006.

The Veteran's right wrist disability, including any associated right hand weakness, is currently rated at 10 percent under the appropriate diagnostic code. The Board has determined that a higher evaluation is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right wrist disability and bilateral hearing loss, as well as his attempt to reopen a previously denied claim of service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen this claim.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has found that further development is needed, including obtaining treatment records from a free medical clinic. The case will be returned to the AOJ for completion of this task.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder was reopened and granted effective July 1, 1974.,Service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was granted effective June 30, 1975.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate examination and medical opinion regarding the etiology of current right wrist, ankle or knee disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee disorder, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and skin disorder. The Board found no clear and unmistakable evidence that the conditions preexisted service or were aggravated by service. There was also no probative medical opinion linking any current condition to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of her medical records.

Service connection was granted for left knee osteoarthritis, status post total knee replacement with an effective date of June 14, 2005.,Service connection was granted for degenerative arthritis of the left elbow and wrist associated with residuals of an injury to the left forearm with effective dates of June 13, 2012.,Service connection was granted for neuralgia of the radial nerve and median nerve associated with residuals of an injury to the left forearm with effective dates of June 14, 2005.