Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and dry mouth. The Veteran was assigned a noncompensable disability rating (10%) for each condition.

The Veteran's deviated septum was incurred during service and is granted service connection. The issues of carpal tunnel syndrome, heart condition with murmur, and pseudofolliculitis barbae are also addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, warranting the grant of SMC based on this need.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder with Depression and degenerative joint diseases, do not render him unemployable as he is currently employed.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 10 percent, with occupational and social impairment due to occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. The Veteran has been granted service connection for fibromyalgia but denied for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been reopened, but the Board finds that new evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The claims for increased ratings for carpal tunnel syndrome of both hands have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed left knee disability, and his service-connected lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities do not meet the criteria for higher ratings. The Veteran's tinea pedis is rated appropriately, as are his hearing loss and CTS. His acquired psychiatric disorder, right ankle condition, and head injury with headaches and myofascial pain syndrome do not warrant increased ratings. Finally, the Board has determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral elbow and right wrist disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active duty service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for left wrist disability and back disability has been denied as there is no evidence to support higher ratings under applicable Diagnostic Codes.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, gastrointestinal disorder, and headaches have not been addressed.

The Board found that the Veteran has a current right wrist disability but did not establish chronic in-service symptoms. The claim for service connection was denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the current condition and service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a supplemental opinion from the February 2015 VA examiner and ensuring that all requested development is completed. The claims will be readjudicated after this.

The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist is etiologically related to his service-connected fractured right wrist, and therefore granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in functional impairment that causes him to be in need of regular aid and attendance of another person due to his inability to dress, feed himself, and perform activities of daily living without assistance.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome disabilities were not related to service. The evidence did not show a chronic disability in service or within one year of discharge, and there was no medical nexus between current disabilities and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a higher initial rating for supracervical hysterectomy, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of the issues related to service connection for various conditions, including tinea, bilateral hand arthritis, shoulder bursitis, elbow bursitis, wrist degenerative arthritis, right hip osteoarthritis, lumbar spondylosis, right knee osteoarthritis, and depressive disorder.

The Board is remanding the claims of service connection for ED, a left wrist condition, a left ankle condition, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric condition (including posttraumatic stress disorder and depression) due to their interrelated nature. The claim of service connection for hypertension is also being remanded as it may be related to the Veteran's service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities are denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case to consider whether an extraschedular rating is warranted for the Veteran's right wrist disability.