Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a personal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge sitting at the RO. The issues include service connection claims and rating disputes.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches, left and right hallux valgus with hammer toe, tinea unguium (onychomycosis), residuals of a right wrist fracture, and scar from inguinal herniorrhaphy are all rated as 30 percent disabling. The Veteran is granted increased ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated financial information and a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left wrist disability. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is also part of this appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip muscle strain (also claimed as left groin/ left leg injury) has been reopened and granted.,Service connection is established for right knee meniscal tear, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome and tenosynovitis, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left carpal tunnel syndrome is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and updated treatment records.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, characterized by painful motion and limited range of motion at the shoulder level, warrants a 20 percent initial rating under Diagnostic Code 5201.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim that his right hand disability is directly related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition, and thus denied the claim.

The Veteran's residuals of a left wrist fracture are rated at 20 percent, and his left cubital tunnel syndrome is rated at 20 percent effective May 4, 2015. Both conditions have been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and referral for extraschedular consideration, finding that prior to September 29, 2006, his right wrist disability did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to failure to report for a VA examination and for obtaining additional medical records.

The Veteran's left wrist disability was granted a 10 percent rating from October 9, 2007 to April 28, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right wrist post-operative residuals are proximately due to his service-connected right elbow disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination and issuance of an SOC on certain issues. The Veteran will be provided with another opportunity to perfect his appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his diabetes mellitus and related conditions, including diabetic neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome, have been denied. The claim for service connection for a colon condition has been reopened but remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are as likely as not of such nature and severity as to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss or loss of use of upper or lower extremities, blindness in both eyes, anatomical loss or loss of use of both hands, deep partial or full thickness or subdermal burns, or residuals of an inhalation injury. Therefore, he is not entitled to specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address his claims of service connection and increased ratings for various knee disabilities, as well as his right eye disability. The case will be returned to the AOJ after completion of this development.

The Veteran's shortening of the right lower extremity is found to be caused by his service-connected right sacroiliac degenerative joint disease, and thus granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to evaluate the Veteran's right ankle disability. The claim for TDIU is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for a right elbow disorder was granted. His left wrist scar is rated at 10 percent due to its size and function.