Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's reports of numbness and pain during service are to be considered in any new opinion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for VA examinations to assess the current nature and severity of his service-connected right thumb, index finger, and right wrist disabilities.

The Board has reopened the claim for residuals of a low back injury due to new and material evidence. The left wrist injury claim remains closed as no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further examinations. The issues include service connection, increased ratings, and hearing loss.

The Board found no evidence of a wrist disability or tinnitus due to service, and thus denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right wrist scapholunate disassociation, status-post scapholunate ligament reconstruction was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to April 26, 2012 and in excess of 50 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. Service connection was not granted, but the Veteran's existing right ankle disability was rated based on its severity.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left foot drop with partial peroneal palsy, low back disability, and right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome have been withdrawn. The Veteran has a current neck disability that was likely incurred during service, and her service connection claim for a left knee disability is granted.,Prior to January 12, 2012, the Veteran's PTSD disability rating is increased to 70 percent.

The Veteran requested to withdraw appeals for several conditions, including breathing disorder, pulmonary disorder, right thyroid nodule, left knee disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, left elbow disorder, right elbow disorder, left arm cyst, right arm cyst, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, right wrist condition, left wrist condition, right hip condition, and left hip condition.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder was denied in June 2003 due to aggravation by his active service. The evidence received since then includes testimony from the Veteran stating that he aggravated his pre-service right knee disorder during his second period of service.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been denied as secondary to service-connected left elbow disability. The other claims have been granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left wrist disorder. However, there is no current diagnosis or manifestation of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hand and wrist disabilities, as well as a left shoulder disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred during active duty or National Guard service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded to allow for additional development of her medical records, examinations, and consideration of the issues on appeal.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral breast disability and bilateral feet neuropathy did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease. The Veteran's left wrist disability was noted on entrance into service but increased in severity during service.,Service connection for a bilateral breast disability and bilateral feet neuropathy cannot be granted as the Veteran has not provided sufficient evidence to establish an in-service event, injury, or disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for microscopic hematuria was previously denied in a final rating decision. The RO found that the evidence did not demonstrate an actually disabling condition. His claim for increased rating of traumatic arthritis of the right wrist remains denied.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's left wrist disability, which is manifested by limited and weakened motion without ankylosis.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence on file for VA to make a decision on the claims. The appellant should be afforded examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected left wrist injury, status-post dorsal capsulodesis is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of new symptoms reported by the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining records from an orthopedic surgeon and providing a new opinion on whether the Veteran's right wrist injury is related to his military service.

The Veteran's left wrist fracture with degenerative changes has been rated at 10 percent since August 21, 2008. The issues regarding the right wrist have not yet been resolved.