Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fractures of bilateral wrists, secondary to his service-connected PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of both his right and left wrists. The Board has determined that additional development, including a VA examination, is needed to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional right wrist disability due to VA surgical treatment in June 2010 at the Pittsburgh VAMC. The case has been remanded to obtain additional medical records, including a copy of the informed consent document and operative report from his September 2011 surgery. A VA examination is also needed to determine if he has an additional right wrist disability as a result of the June 2010 surgical treatment by VA.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a Travel Board hearing at the Togus, Maine RO. The issues include increased evaluations for left wrist fracture and gastritis, service connection claims for sleep apnea, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, hypertension, migraines, and weight gain.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development and examination, including for an evaluation of erectile dysfunction and scars. The issues on appeal include entitlement to a compensable evaluation for erectile dysfunction, service connection for scars of the right wrist and thumb, and service connection for a scar of the left forearm.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his renal cell carcinoma and dysthymia, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since August 1, 2009.

The Veteran's wrist arthritis and peripheral neuropathy disabilities have been rated based on their impact on range of motion, with no higher ratings warranted due to the severity of his symptoms.,The Veteran's wrist disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent for each wrist under Diagnostic Codes 5214 (arthritis) and 8515 (peripheral neuropathy), which reflect mild impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right wrist disability, chronic sinusitis, and headaches secondary to sinusitis are all related to service. The Veteran's current conditions have been established as a result of injuries sustained during his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records review. The issues of rating his right wrist arthritis, right first carpometacarpal joint arthritis, external hemorrhoids, and erectile dysfunction are pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral wrist and elbow disorders have been granted.,The Veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine and right knee disabilities are being remanded.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities has not been diagnosed, and therefore service connection is denied.,Service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is pending as there is no evidence showing it was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, or left wrist/hand/finger disability that is etiologically related to service. However, the Veteran was found to have residuals of a fracture in his right hand that occurred during active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of a cataract, right eye disorder in service or due to a service-connected condition. For the hand, wrist, foot, and left foot disabilities, the Board determined that there was no more than noncompensable limitation of motion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if her service-connected disabilities render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, melanoma, and onychomycosis were denied as these conditions are not presumed to be related to service or herbicide exposure. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to evaluate the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, BPH, and left wrist tenosynovitis.

The Veteran's increased evaluation claims for his service-connected left wrist disability and gastroesophageal reflux disorder have been granted. The left wrist disability is rated at 20 percent, while the gastroesophageal reflux disorder is rated at 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need for VA examinations and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right hand carpal tunnel syndrome and hepatitis C.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not found to be related to service, resulting in denial of these claims.,For the wrist disability, a rating greater than 10 percent was denied as there is no evidence of ankylosis.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of a right wrist fracture, as his diagnosed osteoarthritis of the right wrist was not incurred during active duty service.