Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across multiple conditions and issues. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of frostbite, chest pain, right arm disorder, left wrist disorder, right shoulder disorder, left elbow disorder, or right foot disorder. The back disorder claim was also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left ear hearing loss, bilateral arch and foot disability, or bilateral wrist disabilities. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus to service or any other condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected degenerative disk disease of the lumbar spine did not cause or aggravate his left shoulder, left hand/wrist, and cervical spine disorders. The case was remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee patellofemoral traumatic arthritis and left wrist degenerative joint disease were denied. The evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Veteran's service-connected left wrist disability is not shown to be exceptional or unusual, and the current schedular ratings adequately reflect his impairment. The Board finds no basis for an extraschedular rating.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for left thumb disability, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether his current condition was incurred during active duty. The issue of reopening the claim for left wrist disability was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral wrist disability, and bilateral hand disability.

The Veteran's left wrist disability, diagnosed as left wrist posttraumatic synovitis, posttraumatic degenerative arthritis, and scapholunate dissociation, is causally related to his military service. The appeal for this condition has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The appeals are remanded to further develop and consider these claims.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and private medical records. The Board will also consider whether extraschedular ratings are warranted for the left inguinal hernia and carpal tunnel syndromes, and will determine appropriate effective dates for service connection and increased ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing left wrist disability was aggravated by his military service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for reopening his right wrist disability was granted, and the Board found new and material evidence to support a current right wrist disability. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding whether the current right wrist disability is related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, but his right wrist injury is considered incurred in service.,Service connection for residuals of a right wrist injury is granted.

The Veteran's temporary total disability rating based on VA hospitalization in September 2005 for service-connected right wrist pain, status-post ganglion cyst excision or service-connected right carpal tunnel syndrome is denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria under 38 C.F.R. § 4.29 or § 4.30.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome did not have its onset during active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to his failure to report for a scheduled hearing. The case is now pending and will be handled in an expeditious manner.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of a right wrist injury are not related to his active service and therefore denied his claim.