Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his death from colon cancer, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's National Guard service records and to verify all periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA). The claim will be remanded for these actions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current right wrist conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's initial rating for left ear hearing loss was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation. The right wrist disability issues, including nerve damage, are pending.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right hand disability, including carpal tunnel syndrome, is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, cervical spine disability, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome as the Veteran's conditions did not manifest within one year of separation from active duty or are not related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a back condition and granted it. The claims for left ankle, right wrist, numbness of hands and arms, right rib, neck, and left elbow conditions were denied.

The Veteran's DDD and DJD of the thoracic and lumbar spine were rated at 10 percent prior to April 17, 2015 and at 20 percent thereafter. The Board found that these ratings adequately capture his disability picture.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for headaches and a sinus disorder, as well as a bilateral foot disorder and left wrist laceration residuals. The Board has remanded these matters due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran seeks service connection for a sinus disorder that he contends began in service and is related to his sleep apnea. The Board also needs further evidence regarding this claim, including private treatment records and VA examination results.,The Veteran claims service connection for bilateral foot disorders, which he asserts have been present since service. He also contends the left wrist laceration residuals are related to his in-service injury. These matters require additional development, including obtaining medical opinions on etiology and severity of these conditions.,The Veteran seeks an initial compensable rating for a service-connected left wrist laceration with scar. The Board has directed further development regarding this matter as well.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and right elbow s/p knot removal; and to left elbow-arm secondary to left shoulder. The Veteran's other claims were not supported by the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right wrist fracture is etiologically related to his service-connected bilateral knee disability, and thus grants service connection for residuals of a right wrist fracture.

The Board has granted an extraschedular rating of 10% for the service-connected left wrist disability, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds in his favor based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to an issue with scheduling a video conference hearing. The Veteran was originally scheduled for a hearing in Waco, Texas but requested it be held at a VA facility in El Paso, Texas.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal via a March 2016 written statement.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left elbow and wrist disabilities were denied by the Board. The initial rating for the left wrist disability was granted, but a higher rating is still sought.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service acoustic trauma and the Board finds service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's left wrist disability, post-ganglion cyst excision with chronic strain and arthritis, most nearly approximates a moderately disabling injury under Muscle Group VIII. The Board finds that the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent have not been met.

The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus has been granted with a 10% evaluation, and he is also entitled to separate evaluations of 10% each for his inguinal hernia and the scar from his inguinal hernia surgery. The Veteran's service connection claim for pseudofolliculitis barbae (scarring) has been granted with a 30% evaluation based on disfigurement of the face and head.

The Veteran does not have a current disability to include TMJ, nasal, or right wrist disorders related to service. The Board finds that VA has fulfilled the duties to notify and assist in this case.,VA has also found no evidence of current lumbar spine or cervical spine disabilities.