Wrist & hand decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, right wrist CTS, left knee arthritis, and right hip arthritis as secondary to a service-connected rhinitis disability.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as moot because she has a combined 100 percent schedular rating for rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions, making her unemployability due to service-connected disabilities moot.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his claimed disabilities, including residuals of a right eye injury, neck disability, back disability, bilateral upper extremity neurological disorder, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The appeals are related as they all involve service connection claims.

The Veteran's migraines are rated at the maximum allowable under current criteria, but her pain scar is not compensable.,The Veteran has been diagnosed with HIV and Hepatitis C more than two decades after separation from service.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for various conditions, and the reopening of claims for right knee disorder and left knee disorder. The Veteran's claims are now pending again.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various upper extremity and wrist disabilities, including shoulder, elbow, and carpal tunnel syndrome. The evidence does not support a finding of current disability or a link to service.,There is no credible evidence linking any of these conditions to active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various shoulder, knee, and cervical spine disabilities have been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.,Service connection has also not been granted for tinnitus due to lack of a current diagnosis.

The Veteran's case is being remanded for further review of additional evidence submitted after the last supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the Veteran's current condition is likely related to his duties in service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the VA needs to review his medical records and conduct a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding her active duty and National Guard service, particularly concerning ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA periods from 2003 to 2009. The appellant must provide verification of these periods and any related treatment records.

The Veteran's claim to reopen the final denial of service connection for synovitis of the left wrist and hand was granted effective August 14, 2013. The appeal for an earlier effective date is denied.

The Veteran's request to reopen claims for right ear hearing loss, residuals of TBI, and chest pain was denied. The Board found new and material evidence for the TBI claim.,Sleep apnea, left elbow disability, left shoulder bursitis, cervical spine disability, left hip disability, right pubic tendonitis, left ankle disability, right ankle sprain, left eye injury, stomach pain, kidney stones, service-connected cyst on the right side of the face, numbness in left hand and fingers (carpal tunnel syndrome), leg pain (left and right), and uncontrollable twitching and pain were all remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient verification of service periods and a need for additional service treatment reports.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left wrist pain and right foot disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of her conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims.,Service connection for heart disability, prostate disability, vision disorder (vision loss), and dental disability are all denied.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The issue of an earlier effective date for the separate 10% disability rating for a painful scar on his right wrist (post ganglion cyst excision) is granted, with the effective date set at April 1, 2015.

The Veteran's right wrist carpal instability status-post reconstruction is granted as secondary to his service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy.,The Veteran’s scars over the right eye are not rated higher than 10 percent due to lack of characteristics of disfigurement and no painful or unstable scars.

The Board has denied service connection for right wrist disorder, unhealed left eye injury, unhealed right eye injury, COPD, and broken jaw residuals as these conditions are not shown to be related to active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for compensable evaluations for vertigo and a surgical scar related to left knee arthroscopy, as well as her claim for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, are all remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.