Wrist & hand decisions — 2018

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for right wrist disability and back disability, but denied service connection for both conditions. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of sleep apnea, colorectal cancer and small intestine resection, olecranon spur, right elbow, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service connection claims for polyarteritis nodosa (PAN), mononeuritis multiplex, left wrist drop, and right foot drop are being remanded due to insufficient rationale in the previous VA opinion and the need for updated medical records.

The Board has denied service connection for left and right wrist pain due to lack of current diagnosis. The claims for metatarsalgia (claimed as bilateral foot pain/sprain) and bronchitis, chronic are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right wrist disorder. The AOJ is instructed to obtain private treatment records and provide a VA examiner with an updated opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened, but the claim remains denied.,The Veteran's right wrist condition is rated at 10 percent and no higher.

The Veteran's chest surgical scar was granted a 10% disability rating prior to June 16, 2014. The appeal for an increased rating is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of a left wrist and hand injury, headaches, musculoskeletal pain, dizziness, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), irregular heartbeat condition, skin condition, memory loss and concentration issues, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and anxiety), and post-traumatic stress disorder are all granted. The Veteran's service connection claims for his Gulf War-related conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The decision also remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for a stomach disorder.

The Veteran's appeal regarding effective dates for increased ratings for hypothyroidism, right hand carpal tunnel syndrome, low back disability, and right shoulder adhesive capsulitis was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show the conditions were of severity warranting the requested earlier effective dates prior to January 2, 2015.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were filed on June 25, 2010, and the RO assigned the current effective dates based on VA examination findings from January 2015.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development due to the Veteran's incarceration and inability to obtain necessary medical records. The claims include service connection for various conditions such as shell fragment wound, hearing loss, tinnitus, sinus condition, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), hypertension, gastrointestinal condition, skin problems, and sleeping disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted. The effective date is set at the date of receipt of the new evidence, which is April 20, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, degenerative disc disease, and multiple fractures, have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment since August 30, 2009. The effective date for the TDIU is set at that date.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 40 percent prior to July 16, 2012. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a TDIU for periods prior to September 1, 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for radiculitis and right-sided nerve damage (right carpal tunnel syndrome and right TVF paralysis), but denied service connection for a right ear disorder. The Veteran's current disabilities are considered to be directly related to his military service.

The Veteran's right wrist disability, including post-traumatic deformity with ununited fracture of the ulnar styloid and post-traumatic osteoarthritis, has been evaluated at a 10 percent rating since October 13, 2011. The Board found no evidence to support an increase in this rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome began during her active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability and TDIU due to incomplete information, including missing SSA records and an outdated VA examination. The Veteran will need to provide these records and undergo further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for knee and wrist disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the relationship between his in-service injuries and current conditions. The claims are also being returned for further development of his Panama City VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that another remand is necessary to ensure proper evaluations and opinions for the Veteran's claimed osteoarthritis conditions, as well as his right foot bunion with spurring.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral wrist sprain and tendinitis, as well as right knee disability, have been granted. The decision also includes remanded issues regarding other disabilities.