Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right hand carpal tunnel syndrome is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected anxiety disorder and recurrent right wrist wart, as well as their impact on employment and daily activities. The RO/AMC will also obtain any outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 30, 2002, for the award of service connection for post-operative right hand ganglion cyst scar residuals is granted. The effective date will be set as of April 27, 2000.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral upper extremity disability, including carpal tunnel syndrome, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left hand numbness is related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected left wrist disability does not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability have not been met.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues that had been remanded by the Board, including service connection claims and a higher evaluation for PTSD.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right and left upper extremities, as it was not caused or aggravated by any in-service injury or event. The Veteran's current carpal tunnel syndrome is considered more likely due to post-service factors.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and right elbow epicondylitis.

The Veteran's service-connected left wrist disability, characterized as a left wrist fracture with nonunion of old scaphoid fracture/scapholunate ligament tear, status post fusion, is currently rated at 20 percent from September 1, 2009. The appeal for higher ratings prior to that date and from September 1, 2009 has been granted.

The Board denied service connection for right wrist disability, bilateral toenail fungus (claimed as secondary to diabetes), and malignant melanoma and basal cell carcinoma on the face (claimed as due to herbicide exposure). The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, left wrist disability, and fracture of the mandible were also addressed but are not discussed in this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right wrist disability is adequately rated under the schedular criteria, and an extraschedular rating is not warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder impingement, bilateral wrist condition, and right hand ganglion cyst removal residuals.,A compensable rating of 10% is assigned for the service-connected herpes simplex.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral CTS and determined that the Veteran's pre-existing condition was aggravated by military service, warranting a grant of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a left wrist scar, finding that the Veteran's current left wrist scar is related to his military service. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a left hand disorder remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for dermatitis, finding that the Veteran's skin condition had onset during active service. The Board denied service connection for low back disorder and sinusitis due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. Service connection was also denied for left carpal tunnel syndrome as there is no evidence showing it began in service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding a disability evaluation in excess of 20 percent for service-connected left wrist fusion and a disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected degenerative changes of the left ilium.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bronchitis related to her service. The claims for increased ratings for left wrist degenerative joint disease, cubital syndrome of the left wrist, and gastritis and GERD with IBS are denied as there is no evidence of current disability or aggravation of pre-existing conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left hand and wrist disabilities are directly related to his service, as evidenced by an in-service cold weather injury. Therefore, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations. The claim for TDIU is also held in abeyance.