Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the absence of proper notice for a requested hearing, and he would like to be scheduled for a videoconference hearing at the RO in Des Moines, Iowa.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disability is denied. The Board has also remanded the issues of rating excess of 10 percent for residuals of right and left wrist fractures due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for left wrist scaphoid fracture has been granted at a 10 percent evaluation, effective October 31, 2008. The current diagnosis is degenerative arthritis with painful limitation of motion.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on multiple service-connected conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his claims prior to a decision being made by the Board.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The claim for left ear hearing loss was not substantiated as the Veteran did not have sufficient impairment to qualify as a disability. The claim for service connection for residuals of left leg thrombosis, respiratory disability, and left knee disability is addressed in the REMAND section. Other claims are denied.

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for his service-connected disabilities of the right shoulder, left shoulder, right wrist, and right knee have been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a new opinion regarding whether the Veteran's numbness of the toes is related to his in-service cold injury/frostbite or other etiology.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address whether the Veteran's current right thumb numbness is related to his service-connected residuals of a right thumb strain and/or diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's neurological deficit of the left wrist, hand, and fingers is currently rated as 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 8516 for mild incomplete paralysis. The disability has been found to be manifested by pain and numbness without associated functional loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's current carpal tunnel syndrome is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right wrist disability and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional examinations to assess the functional impairment caused by his service-connected disabilities and for further development.

The Veteran was awarded SMC at the R-1 rate for purposes of accrued benefits due to his need for regular aid and attendance, as well as loss of use of both hands from service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected knee, shoulder, lumbar spine, elbow, and carpal tunnel disabilities have been granted initial compensable ratings. The effective dates for these ratings are not specified.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left wrist disability and bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there was no current disability or evidence of in-service injury. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across multiple conditions, including prostatitis, memory loss, refractive errors of the eye, wrist condition, sinus bradycardia, hypercholesterolemia, ischemic heart disease, PTSD, sleep apnea, left elbow scar, pseudofolliculitis barbae, right hand middle finger acquired deformity, bilateral peripheral retinal degeneration with dysfunctional tear syndrome and vitreous floaters, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction. The claims were denied as there was no competent evidence of a service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing chronic osteomyelitis of the right wrist was not aggravated by military service and denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is April 28, 2009. The Veteran's claim was received on April 28, 2009, and she did not submit a claim for this condition between February 24, 2004 (the date her original claim was denied) and April 28, 2009.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current back disability, right wrist disability, and/or disability manifested by burns on the bilateral arms and chest. The Veteran's claims are REMANDED for these purposes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right wrist disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his active duty service.