Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for an in-person hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO, rather than a video conference. The case will be returned to the Board after this hearing.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for clarification of the August 2012 VA examination and additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations to address his wrist and knee conditions.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for his service-connected thoracolumbar spine and right wrist disabilities were denied. The VA found that the current ratings adequately reflected the severity of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing and consolidating evidence into claims files.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's period of active service from October 16, 1981, to March 18, 1986 is dishonorable and constitutes a bar to VA benefits. The case is now remanded for further development regarding his first period of active service (October 16, 1978, to October 15, 1981).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right wrist disability was received on June 6, 2002. The RO granted this claim and assigned an effective date of May 9, 2005.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to determine the full nature and extent of his service-connected disabilities, including any associated neurological or vascular manifestations. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a vascular and/or neurological disability of the bilateral wrist/hands as secondary to service-connected residuals of right and left wrist sprain/strain are also being addressed.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis of bilateral feet. As a result, these claims remain in their final status.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran's claim for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only is denied as he does not meet the criteria for certification due to lack of service-connected disabilities resulting in loss of use of feet, hands, or ankylosis of knees or hips.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a left thigh disorder characterized by numbness, were denied as secondary to his service-connected residuals of a right ankle fracture.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected carpal tunnel syndrome disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected chondromalacia patella of the left knee status post medial meniscectomy is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 5259. The RO has also granted temporary total disability ratings for surgical treatment and assigned a 10 percent rating effective September 1, 2007. For the period prior to October 9, 2012, the Veteran's carpal tunnel syndromes are rated at 10 percent each. Since October 9, 2012, her right and left carpal tunnel syndromes have been rated at 30 and 20 percent, respectively. The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis has also been rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and incomplete records, including missing private medical records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for right and left carpal tunnel syndrome will be reconsidered.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hand disorder, including arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome, is not related to his military service. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's hands developed degenerative changes due to normal aging and use, rather than an inservice injury.

The Veteran's right wrist strain is rated as 10 percent disabling, effective January 3, 2003.,The Veteran's left lower eyelid scar and left index finger residuals are not service-connected.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the left wrist is related to an injury in service, and his right wrist disabilities are not shown to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current left hip, right wrist, left wrist, or psychiatric disabilities (to include PTSD and depression) due to disease or injury incurred in service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.