Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the Board found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen her previously denied claims of hearing loss and tinnitus. The right wrist ganglion cyst was not rated compensable, and no other conditions met the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service connection claims for various conditions, as well as a claim for an increased rating and TDIU. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address these issues.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records from Dr. J.D. regarding treatment of the Veteran's left wrist disability.

The Veteran's service connection claim for headaches, claimed as migraine headaches, is granted. The remaining claims are not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records from April 2011. The Veteran will also be asked to provide information about his employment since 2004.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to Muscle Group XIX are currently rated at 30 percent, and the claim for an increased rating is granted. A separate 10 percent rating is assigned for scarring of the abdominal region. The issue of TDIU from October 28, 2005 remains unresolved.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling of a Travel Board hearing and VA examinations to address his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, diabetes mellitus, type II, and hypocalcemia. The effective date for the grant of service connection for hypoparathyroidism was not changed as it remains August 31, 1985.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the reduction of his left knee disability rating was found to be improper. The Veteran did not have new and material evidence submitted to reopen several of his claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including opinions regarding the etiology of his hypertension, tinnitus, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right wrist scapholunate disassociation, status-post scaphulonate ligament reconstruction, was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded due to the withdrawal of her claim for service connection for pre-diabetes. The remaining claims of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus, bilateral arm disorder, and bilateral wrist disorder are being reviewed with new VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran should be afforded a new VA examination to assess the etiology of his lumbar spine disability, and the claims for service connection for residuals of right eye injury and neuropathy, bilateral wrists are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with VA examinations to assess his PTSD, heart disability, hypertension, sleep apnea, and left wrist condition.

The Veteran's postoperative residuals of left wrist de Quervain's tendonitis have been manifested by significant limitation of motion, pain, and weakness equating to ankylosis of the left wrist in a position between favorable and unfavorable, but without actual ankylosis or fusion of the left wrist. The criteria for an initial rating of no more than 30 percent have been met.

The Veteran's service-connected right wrist and left foot disabilities prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating greater than 10 percent for left carpal tunnel syndrome and did not meet the criteria for a higher rating for right carpal tunnel syndrome prior to May 27, 2010, or from May 27, 2010, forward.

The Veteran was granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as these conditions are related to his in-service acoustic trauma. The Veteran's right and left wrist degenerative arthritis were also found to be related to his in-service injuries.,Service connection was established based on direct evidence of a link between the current disabilities and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing at the St. Petersburg RO to address his claims of increased rating and service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an extraschedular rating for PTSD and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The case is now pending with the RO for further development.