Wrist & hand decisions — 2018

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before a decision was made, so the case is dismissed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right wrist, right ankle, and low back disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing a current disability related to military service.

The Veteran's initial ratings for left and right wrist CTS were granted, with the left wrist receiving a 30 percent rating prior to February 4, 2015, and the right wrist receiving a 20 percent rating from that date. The issue of entitlement to TDIU was also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, but the other issues related to right wrist condition, left knee condition, and sleep disorder are remanded due to additional development needed.

The Veteran's right wrist CTS release surgery is rated at 50 percent since September 25, 2013. The Veteran's left wrist CTS release surgery is rated at 40 percent since the same date. Service connection for OSA was denied. A TDIU has been granted due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's dental condition, lumbar spine disorder, hernia condition, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome as there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for tension headaches is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA audiological examination and opinion.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disorder, left ankle disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, carpal tunnel syndrome of the hands, low back disorder, hypertension, varicose veins, pulmonary sarcoidosis, and left foot disorder are all remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hand carpal tunnel syndrome, right ankle disorder, right knee disorder, right foot disorder (pes planus), and right varicose veins are not addressed as they do not involve secondary service connection.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance or at the housebound rate due to insufficient evidence showing she is in need of regular aid and assistance, or substantially confined to her home.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right knee disorder, cervical spine condition, back condition, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety and depressive disorder), stomach condition, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, right wrist condition, left wrist condition, chronic fatigue, and sleep apnea. The Board also denied reopening the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence.

The Board denied initial compensable evaluations for the service-connected left wrist, right wrist, and right thumb disabilities due to lack of evidence showing limitation of motion or other functional impairment that would warrant a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, as there is insufficient evidence to resolve the carpal tunnel syndrome claims. The VA needs to obtain further medical opinions regarding these issues.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status due to service-connected disabilities is remanded as the current examination report does not address whether he requires aid and attendance or is housebound.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased ratings of right carpal tunnel syndrome and low back disability.

Service connection has been granted for left shoulder tendonitis, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, tinea versicolor, and PTSD with depressive features. The Veteran's claims of service connection for other conditions have been denied.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for tinea versicolor is May 14, 2002.

The Board has denied service connection for right wrist, eye, and migraine headache disabilities. The Veteran's claim of PTSD is also remanded as the examiner needs to determine if it was caused by a sexual assault during his honorable period of service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lateral epicondylitis of the elbows and residuals of a scaphoid fracture wrist injury were denied as there was no evidence of significant disability or limitation of motion that would warrant higher ratings.

The Veteran's right wrist ganglion cyst was diagnosed during her active service and is granted as service connected. The claims for increased ratings of bilateral plantar fasciitis, left great toe hallux valgus, and headache disability are remanded due to new evidence indicating worsening.

The Veteran's body aches in the bilateral wrists, shoulders, and knees are granted as they are part of a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness.,The Veteran's insomnia is granted as it is considered a symptom of his service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder.

The Board has granted initial disability ratings of 20 percent for left carpal tunnel syndrome and 30 percent for right carpal tunnel syndrome, effective from November 1, 2013.