Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining clarification on whether the Veteran's claimed carpal tunnel syndrome is separate from his service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities. The left knee disability claim is also being considered on a secondary basis to his right leg disability. The back disability claim is inextricably intertwined with the left knee disability and must be deferred at this time.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for arthritis of the right wrist and epicondylitis of the right elbow were denied by the Board. The Veteran is currently rated 10% for his right elbow condition, but seeks a higher rating. For his right wrist condition, he was previously rated 30%, but now seeks an increase.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for traumatic arthritis of the right wrist with navicular nonunion and residuals of a fractured left wrist were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating schedules.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for a Persian Gulf War examination and additional treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for chloracne and right and left knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service. The claim for keratosis and hyperkeratosis (claimed as dry skin, tunnels in and under skin, wart-like growths on the feet, extra dry hands, and skin cancer) has been reopened due to new evidence received since the last final denial.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 12, 2004, for the grant of service connection for her service-connected disabilities was denied as she did not file a formal or informal claim prior to that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine, left wrist, and acquired psychiatric disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining more recent medical records and a neurological examination to assess any left forearm/wrist muscle or neurological injuries.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left wrist condition is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left wrist tenosynovitis with a ganglion cyst is related to active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the current manifestations and severity of his service-connected right wrist disability, including any causal relationship between his in-service injury and his current symptoms.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for a right hand disability, finding that the Veteran experienced an injury to his right hand prior to active service and that there is sufficient evidence to support the conclusion that the current disability is related to service. The issues of initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for a psychiatric disorder and effective date earlier than March 28, 2008, for TDIU are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied as he failed to appear at the scheduled VA examination and did not provide good cause.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and arthralgia of the back and right wrist/shoulder were granted. The effective date is not specified as it was a direct grant without reopening an old claim.

The Board previously denied service connection for a right arm/elbow disability and left hand disability (to include DeQuervain's tenosynovitis). The Veteran seeks to reopen these claims, as well as an increased evaluation for his left wrist ganglion cyst. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's left wrist osteomylitis, resulting from May and June 2006 VA surgeries, was found to be a result of the care provided by VA. The event that caused this additional disability (infection) was not reasonably foreseeable.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of her migraine headaches, sciatica of the right and left lower extremities associated with her low back disability, and service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome were denied. The Veteran's claim for higher evaluations of her migraine headaches was granted up to a 30 percent evaluation effective May 27, 2011.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a skin disease, low back disability, left leg disability, and left wrist and hand disability due to lack of current evidence of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.