Wrist & hand decisions — 2018

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for right ankle and wrist conditions, but has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for digestive disorders, bilateral elbow injuries, head injuries, and right wrist and hand injuries due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations due to incomplete records, inadequate examinations, and unclear assertions. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical evidence or clarification regarding his claims.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and a temporary total convalescence period are being remanded due to the need for new examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating, service connection for sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was granted service connection effective December 5, 2011. The claim for left big toe amputation compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is denied due to lack of evidence showing negligence or fault on the part of VA.

The Veteran's heart condition, vision loss, back conditions, lower extremity radiculopathy, cervical spinal stenosis, right hip condition, kidney failure, arthritis, fibromyalgia, shoulder pain, varicose veins, carpal tunnel syndrome, and restless leg syndrome are all related to service exposure to hazardous chemicals. The Veteran must be provided with a VA examination for each issue.,The Veteran's major depressive disorder, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, and mild recurrent major depressive disorder, with moderate generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder are all related to service exposure to hazardous chemicals. The Veteran must be provided with a VA examination for each issue.

The Veteran's claims for compensable initial ratings for various service-connected disabilities have been denied. The Board has remanded several of the issues for further evaluation, including those related to arthritis and wrist conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and dismissed the claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The issues of service connection for left wrist cyst, right foot disability, upper respiratory disability, sleep disorder, hypertension, carpal tunnel syndrome, temporomandibular joint disease, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a gunshot wound to the right wrist and left eye blurring, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's left wrist condition is not related to his active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including right wrist, left wrist, right knee, left knee, right shoulder, and foot conditions. The VA is instructed to obtain medical records from Drs. C.A., D.G., and Occupational Health Cape Fear. Additionally, a new examination is required to determine if the Veteran has current diagnoses of these conditions and whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings on her service-connected CTS, TMJ pain syndrome, and gynecological disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's depression is granted as it is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right and left hip trochanteric bursitis, right and left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, left foot calcific enthesopathy of the calcaneal bone, left inguinal hernia, and hemorrhoids.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is granted as it is proximately due to his service-connected depression.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding no evidence of a nexus to service or service-connected diabetes. The decision also denied service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the upper extremities due to lack of medical opinion.,Service connection was not granted as there is insufficient evidence linking current knee conditions or carpal tunnel syndrome to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's back brace was granted a clothing allowance for the year 2014 due to wear and tear on her clothing. However, the bilateral wrist braces/splints were denied as they are not related to any service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right wrist and bilateral hand disabilities, as well as his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The VA is instructed to obtain any SSA records related to the Veteran’s disability benefits application and any outstanding VA treatment records. Additionally, a VA examination must be conducted to assess the functional impairment of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity and neurological disability of the left upper extremity, including carpal tunnel syndrome, as secondary to exposure to Agent Orange. The evidence did not show early-onset peripheral neuropathy within one year after presumed exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen her claim for glaucoma, and the preponderance of the evidence is against finding that she has generalized arthritis or any other claimed condition due to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and an earlier effective date are being remanded due to the addition of new VA treatment records that need to be considered.