Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for PTSD and for service connection for various undiagnosed illness-related conditions. The issues of new and material evidence were also addressed, but no new or additional evidence was provided to reopen the low back disorder claim.

The Veteran's hypertension, atrial tachycardia, and chronic lumbar strain are rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations. The other conditions have been evaluated as noncompensable or with a 10% rating.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for left thumb MCP joint and scaphoid osteoarthritis, right wrist osteoarthritis, low back strain, and right ear hearing loss have been denied. The current evaluations are found to be appropriate.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in its analysis and a need for a new VA examination of the Veteran's right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the Veteran's current condition was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and is not caused or permanently worsened by a pre-existing right carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the claims of PTSD and disabilities of the right elbow, wrist, and hand/finger to include as secondary to service-connected residuals, stab wound, right upper arm, muscle group VI.

The Veteran was granted service connection for a left plantar heel spur, diagnosed in November 2005. The chronic left wrist disability claim is denied.,Service connection for the lumbar spine disability has been granted prior to June 8, 2012, and denied as of that date.

The Veteran's Raynaud's disease, diagnosed as a result of cold weather injury in service, is granted. The Board also finds that the Veteran has current manifestations of plantar fasciitis and bilateral ankle disorder, both related to her service. However, there are no findings or opinions regarding the left wrist disorder.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records from the Social Security Administration and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected hemorrhagic basal ganglia stroke and whether his right wrist fracture was secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a new VA examination due to the possibility of worsening symptoms and material changes in disability.

The Veteran's GERD, right wrist tendonitis, and residuals of right elbow fracture are all rated at the maximum allowable under the rating schedule. The Board finds that these conditions meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hand disability, including residuals of shrapnel wounds and carpal tunnel syndrome, is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for a chronic right ankle disability and right CTS, which represents a complete grant of the benefits sought on appeal.,For left CTS, the claim is remanded as there are incomplete records.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current lumbar, cervical, right knee, and right carpal tunnel syndrome disabilities are not related to his military service. The VA examiner concluded that these conditions did not originate during or as a result of his in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current disability of the hands or wrists, and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a right shoulder disorder and a right wrist/forearm disorder, as well as his request for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left retropatellar pain syndrome, have all been denied. The evidence does not establish current diagnoses for these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have been incurred in service. The issues of short-term memory loss and right carpal tunnel syndrome are remanded for additional examination.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a right arm and shoulder condition, neck condition, back condition, right wrist condition, and degenerative joint disease of the right knee. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current right wrist disability.