Wrist & hand decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection and compensation ratings for various disabilities, including upper respiratory, left shoulder, right wrist, bilateral ankle, hearing loss, cystitis, and foot scars. The decision also found that the Veteran's current cystitis is in remission.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The petition to reopen a claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the low back is granted.,The petition to reopen a claim for degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the left wrist is granted.,Entitlement to service connection for DJD of the right wrist is granted.,Entitlement to service connection for DJD of the left wrist is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected tension headaches, right carpal tunnel syndrome, PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder have been granted initial disability ratings of 30 percent each. The Veteran also received a TDIU due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including back disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral hand disability (including CTS), and bilateral lower extremity disability (including neuropathy and radiculopathy) as the evidence did not show a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, right shoulder disability, and right elbow disability due to the need for additional development. Specifically, a new VA examination is required to assess the current level of severity of the service-connected right wrist condition and whether any right shoulder or right elbow disabilities are secondary to the service-connected right wrist disability.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. As a result, the Board dismissed these issues.

The Veteran's arthritis of the right thumb and CTS of the right upper extremity are granted secondary to his service-connected right hand disability.,A rating higher than 20 percent for status post trauma, right hand with secondary bony bossing of the proximal index metacarpal is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete records and requests for additional evidence.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine strain claim is remanded due to inadequate examination. His GERD and carpal tunnel syndrome claims are not addressed as they were not part of the original appeal.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for right hand carpal tunnel syndrome beginning April 11, 2013. The Veteran's neck injury and left hand carpal tunnel are remanded for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current right wrist symptoms are related to his service. The Veteran needs to provide VA treatment records and complete a VA Form 21-4142 for any private treatment records.

The Veteran's trigger finger s/p flexor tenosynovectomy with scar is currently evaluated as 0 percent disabling. The Board finds that a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 5229 is not warranted due to lack of evidence of limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right wrist and lumbar strain disabilities due to inadequate examination reports, requiring further evaluations.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities. The case is now REMANDED for additional examinations and opinions regarding various other issues, including service connection for right hand/wrist, bilateral ankle, hip, and shoulder disabilities; initial ratings for knee and lumbar spine disabilities; and a TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional VA treatment records.,The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for service connection of degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and radiculopathy of the right upper extremity.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right hand and carpal tunnel syndrome may be related to service, but needs further examination for a definitive opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for service-connected left wrist scaphoid fracture and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease due to insufficient evidence from recent VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions due to a lack of new and material evidence. The Veteran must submit additional evidence to reopen these claims.,A TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claims.