Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence of current disability severity and a need for additional examinations.

The Board finds that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right ankle and left wrist strain did not initially manifest during service or are otherwise etiologically related to his active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral patellar tendinitis (jumper's knee), bilateral shin splints, and elbow osteoarthritis. The remaining claims of service connection for sleep apnea, TBI including headaches and seizures, and a disorder of the thoracic and/or lumbar spine are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the issues regarding TDIU, left wrist disability rating, and special monthly compensation for loss of use of the left hand are all granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to an unforeseeable transportation issue preventing the scheduled videoconference hearing. The case will be rescheduled for a new hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) status-post surgical release, finding that it is proximately due to or the result of service-connected fibromyalgia. The issue of a temporary total disability evaluation based on CTS treatment remains pending.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for the denial of service connection for bilateral hip, wrist, elbow, and knee disabilities at a hearing before the Board.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including obtaining VA treatment records, determining service connection based on exposure in inland waters, and providing medical opinions regarding the onset and etiology of each condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right wrist disability and ganglion cyst removal were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's cervical spine strain, right knee osteoarthritis status post-surgery with loss of cartilage in patella and femoral areas, and left wrist scaphoid fracture are currently rated at 10 percent each. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's right wrist fracture with traumatic arthritis is currently rated at 20 percent, and his neuropathy of the right upper extremity is rated at 10 percent. The issues have been granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the issues of entitlement to ratings in excess of 50 percent for psoriatic arthritis with bilateral pes planus and hallux valgus, right ankle psoriatic arthritis, left ankle psoriatic arthritis, and left wrist psoriatic arthritis have been dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected left wrist degenerative joint disease and left great toe hallux valgus with degenerative joint disease have been granted initial ratings of 10 percent each, effective September 1, 2008. The Veteran's other claims remain unresolved.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, and the criteria for entitlement to TDIU have not been met.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability. The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disability, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus are being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for ganglion cyst in the right wrist was denied, and her reduction of a 20% evaluation to noncompensable (0%) for limitation of motion of the right thumb was also denied. The RO did not provide proper procedures for reducing the thumb evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not warrant an earlier effective date for the grants of service connection.,New and material evidence was presented to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for hair loss, but the claim remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bipolar disorder has been withdrawn. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected sarcoidosis is being reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection for hypertension is also being remanded for further examination and opinion.