Wrist & hand decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and increased ratings are remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting further examinations.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, which include bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy. The Board has granted the TDIU claim based on these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist disability, right wrist disability, fatigue (claimed as chronic fatigue syndrome), and asthma. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to administrative error and will consider whether an extraschedular evaluation is warranted for the Veteran's right wrist disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for prostate cancer and right wrist disability due to service connection issues. The prostate cancer claim requires a VA opinion on possible exposure to Agent Orange, while the right wrist claim needs another VA examination to assess its severity.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed as withdrawn or moot. The motion alleging clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the November 1971 rating decision has been granted, resulting in an effective date of June 18, 1971, for the grant of service connection for post-operative residual scarring associated with lung biopsy.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for left and right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent for his left wrist condition or 20 percent for his right wrist condition.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions due to incomplete development and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from March 24, 2016. The criteria for TDIU have been met.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for various orthopedic conditions and a penis tear/erectile dysfunction. The cases are remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence for some issues and the need for further examinations.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection cannot be granted on a direct basis because there is no evidence showing that any signs or symptoms of hypertension, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, or peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities manifested during active service.

The Board has remanded multiple claims for service connection, including for DJD of various joints and related disabilities such as hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy, and tinnitus. The claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hyposmia was denied in 2005, and new evidence received after that time does not meet the threshold to reopen the claim.,Service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome is denied as there is no medical evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's right wrist cyst and PTSD are both denied increased ratings. The right wrist cyst is rated at 10 percent, effective from December 14, 2015. The PTSD remains at a 70 percent rating.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to assess whether the Veteran's decreased grip strength is related to his service-connected right wrist disability, and to determine if a separate compensable rating should be assigned for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right and left hand carpal tunnel syndrome as they require further examination.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis in the Veteran's right upper extremity (including right elbow, wrist, and hand) as there is no current diagnosis of this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist, shoulder, and elbow disabilities due to inadequate VA examination and lack of clear and unmistakable evidence regarding pre-service conditions.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been denied as the new evidence received does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims, and there is no clear and unmistakable evidence to rebut the presumption of soundness for pre-existing disorders.