Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the claims of service connection for various joints and gastrointestinal disorders, as well as hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical opinions and need for further examination. The claims will be reviewed again after the necessary steps are taken.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been reopened and is now being reviewed on the merits.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and is now being reviewed on the merits.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities has been reopened and is now being reviewed on the merits.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate condition, ganglion cysts (right foot and left wrist), degenerative joint disease (upper and lower extremities), back condition, and sleep apnea secondary to PTSD are all pending and will be remanded for further review.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left wrist due to new and material evidence submitted since the last denial. The claim is then granted as the medical opinions suggest that the current condition is related to a traumatic injury sustained during military service.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings were adjudicated multiple times. The RO granted service connection and assigned initial ratings, but reduced the rating for one condition due to CUE.,Both issues have a mixed disposition as some aspects of each claim are granted while others are denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment, with sedentary forms of employment being possible.

The Veteran's benefits, including a 100% disability rating for loss of use of one hand and one foot, SMC for loss of use of one hand and one foot, DEA benefits, automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only, and certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing, have been restored due to the improper reduction without a predetermination hearing.

The Veteran's left wrist disability, characterized as DeQuervain tenosynovitis with a scar, is rated at the maximum allowable under Diagnostic Code 5215. The Board finds that the evidence does not support an increase in this rating.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for a right wrist disorder was dismissed as the issue had been previously granted by a November 2009 rating decision.

The Veteran seeks an initial increased disability rating for his right wrist condition, which was previously rated as noncompensable and later increased to 10 percent. The case is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and updated medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral wrist disorder. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current disabilities of a bilateral hip, right wrist, or bilateral eye condition for VA compensation purposes. The claims were denied as there was no evidence of a chronic disability related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left hand was denied. The reduction of disability evaluations for right and left hand carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as a residual scar on the right hand, from 30% to 10%, and from 10% to noncompensable, respectively, were not supported by evidence at the time of the reductions.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant before a decision was made.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for eligibility for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only due to lack of loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet, hands, vision, or ankylosis.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and active military service or periods of ACDUTRA/INACDUTRA.

The Board found that the Veteran's Dupuytren's contracture of the right hand and CTS were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and are not proximately due to or the result of service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a left wrist scaphoid fracture and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine have been rated at 10 percent each, effective from the date of the initial grant of service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have its onset during active military service, and his right wrist and hand disabilities are linked to injury sustained in service. The hearing loss claim is denied as the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a bilateral hearing impairment.

The Veteran's death was caused by pancreatic cancer, but the Board finds that his service-connected coronary artery disease substantially contributed to his death. As such, the claim for service connection for the cause of death is granted.