Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a right wrist disability and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran's statements regarding his in-service injury are considered credible, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the underlying claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's right wrist condition is related to service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for a neurological disorder of the upper extremities and an increased evaluation for residuals of shell fragment wound to the left leg.

The Veteran's left wrist disability is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine its relationship to his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a low back disability and postoperative metastatic breast cancer. The claim of service connection for a low back disability was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection was also denied for other conditions.

The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the left and right upper extremities have been rated as 10 percent disabling since December 2008. The Board has determined that from December 18, 2008 to February 12, 2012, the symptoms were mild, warranting a 10 percent rating for each hand. From February 13, 2012, the symptoms have been even milder, warranting no increase in disability ratings.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected left and right knee subluxing patella were denied. Her claim for a compensable disability rating for her service-connected surgical scar of the left knee was granted. The Veteran's claims for service connection for her claimed left and right wrist disabilities are not applicable as they do not involve issues related to service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and another VA examination to evaluate the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for major depressive disorder, a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for residuals of stress fracture of the left leg, or any other claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diverticulitis is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current disability of diverticulitis related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear dates of service and unobtained service treatment records. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is found to be caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Veteran was granted a compensable rating for de Quervain's disease of the left wrist with compartment release after December 7, 2013, but her other claims remain denied.

The Board has granted the claim for service connection for a lower back disorder. The remaining issues on appeal are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD prior to February 17, 2012 has been withdrawn. The Board also dismissed the claims for service connection of left wrist disorder, right wrist disorder, and right elbow disorder due to lack of evidence or clear error.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the local RO.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed hand disabilities, specifically bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger fingers. The Veteran testified that these conditions began during service from cold weather injuries as well as manual work with high explosives, cannon, and other heavy labor.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of liver disorder, left heel fracture, bilateral testicle disorder, and other conditions have been withdrawn. The remaining claims are dismissed.

The Board found that the Veteran's left wrist fracture did not increase in severity during service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a grant of any of the requested evaluations.