Wrist & hand decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PAD, due to exposure at Camp Lejeune, is granted.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted as the evidence shows it began during service and persists.,Service connection for a left wrist condition is denied.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for tension headaches is denied.,Service connection for left side sciatic nerve damage is denied.,Service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy is denied.

The Veteran's headaches are service-connected as secondary to his major depressive disorder. The Board also granted TDIU based on the Veteran's major depressive disorder and other service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, right hand and left hand carpal tunnel syndrome, an acquired psychiatric condition, and a sleep disorder. The Veteran's ankylosing spondylitis with uveitis was granted a 40% rating.

The Board has denied all service connection claims and increased rating claims for various conditions, including carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist, sinusitis, obstructive sleep apnea, coronary artery disease (CAD), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a sliding hiatal hernia with associated gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with noncardiac chest pain.

The Board denied service connection for upper back pain and left wrist pain and weakness, finding no current diagnosis of an upper back disability and that any related issues are already contemplated by the rating criteria for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the Veteran's malaria and left wrist and knee disabilities. The Appellant is being asked to provide a statement of the case on her claims for increased ratings for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of left or right wrist conditions and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's right arm disability (right carpal and cubital tunnel syndrome with peripheral neuropathy) was previously rated at 20 percent. The RO has remanded the case for a new examination to assess the current level of severity of his service-connected condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right arm ulnar neuropathy, carpal tunnel, and scarring. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during or were related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals are being remanded due to the failure of VA to obtain and consider certain treatment records, as well as for a new VA examination of the toes.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his claims.,Obstructive sleep apnea has been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as irritable bowel syndrome. The conditions are considered to have originated during military service.

The Veteran's initial increased evaluation for residuals of right wrist volar ganglion is denied. The Veteran was previously granted a noncompensable rating, and the current appeal seeks an increase to at least 10 percent.,For the period from April 1, 2008, to December 1, 2008, and February 1, 2009, to January 22, 2014, the Veteran's initial increased evaluation for residuals of left lateral meniscectomy with osteoarthritis is denied. The Veteran was previously granted a 10 percent rating, and the current appeal seeks an increase to at least 30 percent.,For the period beginning September 7, 2017, the Veteran's increased evaluation for residuals of left lateral meniscectomy with osteoarthritis (post total knee arthroplasty) is granted. The Veteran was previously rated as 60 percent disabled and now receives a higher rating of 60 percent.

All the Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable since April 1, 2015. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether his service-connected conditions make it impossible for him to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back condition and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome due to lack of a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, which has been granted for special monthly compensation.

The Veteran's GERD was not related to service, and the Board denied service connection for this condition.,There is no current diagnosis of left wrist or neck disabilities. The Board denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the issues of service connection for left ear hearing loss, bilateral restless leg syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome (secondary to service connected left elbow epicondylitis), and right carpal tunnel syndrome.,Service connection was denied for left ear hearing loss.