Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran was not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities prior to June 4, 2002 and denied an earlier effective date for TDIU.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for a right ankle sprain and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome as there is no competent evidence of a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the claim for TDIU is granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen several service connection claims, but the specific evaluations for these conditions remain unchanged.

The Board determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities of his left wrist or right third (or fourth) finger, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the residuals of Valley Fever, finding that the clinical findings in the Veteran's lungs detected in 1977 and present in 2008 are the residuals of infection that was the result of exposure to coccidioides imitis (Valley Fever) during active service. The heart condition and arthritis claims remain pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right wrist and back disorders, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral wrist and hand disability (carpal tunnel syndrome), bilateral knee disability, and arthritis. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or continuity of symptoms.

The VA denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for right wrist fracture residuals, finding that no new and material evidence had been received.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service connection claims for various conditions, including hepatitis C, abdominal disability, head injury/concussion, eye injury/abrasion, black widow spider bite, and asbestos exposure-related disabilities. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations.

The Veteran is granted a rating of 30 percent for his service-connected paralysis of the right radial nerve, and denied an increased rating for his degenerative joint disease of the right wrist.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for left knee trauma and degenerative joint disease, right shoulder bursitis, and right wrist fracture and limitation of motion are denied as the evidence does not support a higher evaluation under applicable rating criteria.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a chronic right ankle, wrist, or shoulder disorder during service or for many years thereafter. The Veteran's current diagnoses are not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and whether referral for extraschedular consideration may be warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a gunshot wound to the head, Hodgkin's disease, and disabilities of the skull, brain, head, wrists, left arm, hips, prostate, pelvis, and liver. The Board found no current diagnoses for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, left wrist strain residuals, neck strain residuals, and bilateral shin splints were denied. The Board found the Veteran's statements regarding her stressor to be not credible.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of right and left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome are not related to his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of genital herpes and a rating in excess of 10 percent for his right wrist disability. The evidence did not support a finding that the current disabilities were related to service.

The Board found that the appellant's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, as he is currently employed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tendonitis of the right and left wrists were denied as there is no evidence that warrants an increase in their current ratings.