Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's arthritis of the left wrist and left thumb laceration muscular and neurological residuals have been granted service connection, but no increased disability ratings are warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for impingement syndrome of the right shoulder, carpal tunnel syndrome with ulnar neuropathy of the left wrist, and carpal tunnel syndrome with ulnar neuropathy of the right wrist.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left knee or hip disability, and therefore cannot establish service connection for these conditions. The right wrist disability is also denied as secondary to the service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of his right hand disability on employment and clarifying the extent of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right and left wrists, as well as a migraine headache disorder, were granted. The initial rating assigned was 30 percent for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist, 20 percent for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist, and 50 percent for a migraine headache disorder.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain medical records and provide the Veteran with appropriate examinations regarding his claimed bilateral ankle disorder, low back disorder, and left hand/wrist disorder. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge (VLJ) or a Decision Review Officer (DRO).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinea pedis affecting both feet, Dupuytren's contracture of the hands and wrists, and degenerative joint disease.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle, elbow, shoulder, neck, and nerve disabilities. The evidence does not establish a nexus between these conditions and active duty.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and no jurisdiction remains for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected right wrist disability, characterized by limited motion and discomfort, is currently rated at 10 percent. The appeal for a higher rating remains pending.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional development regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The Veteran served in the U.S. Navy Reserve, including periods of active duty and inactive duty training.

The Board found that the Veteran's March 29, 2005 repair of the left superficial femoral artery dissection was a complication of the March 24, 2005 aortogram and resulted in an additional left leg neurological disability. The proximate cause of this disability was deemed to be VA's carelessness or lack of proper skill in performing the March 24, 2005 aortogram.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional development needed, including consideration of clinical records from June 18, 2012, to December 7, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left wrist disability, diagnosed as ganglia left wrist with chronic pain, is causally related to his period of active military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome. Service connection is granted for a lumbar spine disability, depressive disorder with anxiety, and bilateral ankle, knee, hip, wrist, elbow, and shoulder disabilities due to undiagnosed illness or in-service exposure.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal seeking increased initial ratings for his service-connected right shoulder, left knee and right carpal tunnel syndrome disabilities.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for low back disability, bilateral CTS, and bilateral heel spurs. The case has been remanded due to incomplete records from the King Khalid Military City in Saudi Arabia and missing VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD and his other diagnosed psychiatric disabilities are not shown to be etiologically related to service. The claims for right knee disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, and bilateral leg cramps were withdrawn by the Veteran during a hearing before the Board. Service connection is denied for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and a mood disorder), right lower extremity disability, left lower extremity disability, low back disability, right knee disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, and bilateral leg cramps.

The Veteran's bilateral upper extremity neurological disability and left carpal tunnel syndrome are found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. His right knee replacement residuals warrant a 60% rating, effective April 27, 2011, while his left knee replacement residuals prior to that date warrant the same rating.