Wrist & hand decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination regarding the Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome and its relationship to his service-connected right wrist strain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral hip condition and right hand/wrist condition were denied in the June 1993 rating decision. The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen these claims.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a groin condition is also denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are granted as service-connected.,Service connection is also granted for left hand surface lump, carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands, and primary vitiligo. However, the issues of service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome right hand and left hand, and degenerative arthritis left knee remain pending.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Board denied service connection for right wrist and left wrist disorders, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected residuals of a fractured right tibia/fibula.,Service connection was also denied for a right hip disorder, with the Board concluding that the evidence does not support a link between the condition and the service-connected right knee.

The Board has denied service connection for a generalized or systemic nervous system disability and remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a left hand disability with neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome, finding no evidence of a nexus to service or service-connected conditions.,For the left hand disability, the Board also found no additional disability due to VA surgical treatment in November 2005.

The Board has denied a higher disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection of left-wrist, cervical-spine, low-back, and left-knee disorders due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's PTSD is not service connected as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,The Veteran's right elbow, cervical spondylosis with left radiculopathy, lumbar spondylosis L4-L5, paroxysmal atrial tachycardia, and CTS are not service connected as they are not related to his service-connected right knee tear of the lateral and medial meniscus.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to the Veteran's reported exposure to toxic chemicals during a flood and cleanup at Fort Leonard Wood in 1975. The VA is instructed to investigate further and obtain additional information.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral upper extremity neurological disabilities, including a focal motor seizure disorder, carpal tunnel syndrome, and ulnar sensory neuropathy, are at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the service connection claims for left ankle, right ankle, left wrist, and right wrist disabilities due to insufficient examination reports and incomplete medical records.

The Board dismissed the issue of entitlement to service connection for a left inguinal hernia due to the Veteran's withdrawal. The issues of service connection for a left wrist disability and bilateral hearing loss disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to increased evaluations for right and left wrist degenerative joint disease due to the Veteran's contentions of worsening symptoms since his last examinations, and the indication that he underwent surgery after those examinations. The VA is required to provide a new examination if there is evidence of an increase in severity since the last examination.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hand disability and right knee disability, finding no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected left wrist status post fracture, lumbar spondylosis, levoscoliosis and discogenic disease, right knee lateral tibial plateau, and tinea versicolor.

The Veteran's right wrist surgical scar is rated at 10 percent, but the issue of a higher rating for avascular necrosis remains pending as it was not fully evaluated in the current decision.

The Veteran's appeals for a compensable rating for a right index finger strain, and ratings in excess of 30 percent for right upper extremity scars and 10 percent for right wrist sprain have been denied. The case is REMANDED to obtain VA treatment records and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for a new VA examination and to obtain additional records, as well as to reopen the claim for service connection for a back disorder. The hearing loss claim is also remanded due to lack of recent VA treatment records. The wrist injury claim requires an increased evaluation based on functional impairment during flare-ups.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and service connection of rheumatoid arthritis, including from anthrax vaccinations.