Wrist & hand decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case for readjudication due to insufficient rationale in the original decision and because of additional evidence submitted by the Veteran's representative.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals on all service connection claims except for right shoulder, right ankle, and right wrist conditions. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Veteran's left hand condition, including any wrist issues, is related to her service-connected right-hand disability and needs further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy due to Agent Orange exposure or as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The case is being returned for additional development, including obtaining missing VA treatment records and a new medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various musculoskeletal conditions, including right shoulder tendonitis, right wrist tendonitis, right hip bursitis, and chondromalacia of the right knee, were denied. The current evaluations are found to be appropriate based on the evidence provided.

Service connection for fibromyalgia, left elbow disorder, right wrist disorder, left wrist disorder, low back disorder, left hip disorder, left ankle disorder, and right ankle disorder is granted.,PTSD service connection claim is REMANDED.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for the issues of service connection for various conditions, including back disorder, right hip disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, allergic rhinitis, obstructive sleep apnea, hyperglycemia, alopecia, obesity, carpal tunnel syndrome of the wrists. Service connection was granted for Other Specified Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorder.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for a right knee injury and an initial rating for a right wrist injury. The Veteran's claims are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for apraxia of the eyelid opening with blepharospasm, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities associated with type II diabetes (claimed as carpal tunnel syndrome), tinnitus, and aortic aneurysm. The evidence does not support these claims.,The Board found that there is no direct or secondary service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and right knee disability. The claim for acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, is remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection for heart disability, respiratory disease (COPD), cervical spine and thoracic spine disability, right wrist disability, and bilateral ankle disability remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, so his TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's left wrist fracture and carpal tunnel syndrome are rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that an extraschedular rating is not warranted as the symptoms are adequately contemplated by the current schedular criteria.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for tendinitis and mild degenerative arthritis of the left and right wrists.,The Veteran's current left knee disability is less likely than not related to his active service, as it is more likely due to age-related degeneration. The same reasoning applies to the bilateral wrist disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected right wrist CTS, DJD, and painful scars are currently rated at 20 percent. The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding these issues.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and left wrist conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his service-connected left arm, shoulder, wrist, and scar conditions.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left and right wrist disorders, index finger injuries to the left hand and right hand, pterygium removal from the left eye, chest pains, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The reasons given were that there was no evidence of a link between these conditions and service.,The Board found that the Veteran's current wrist pain is not related to his in-service injuries and that arthritis of the wrists is more likely due to aging rather than service.

The Veteran's left hand carpal tunnel syndrome was granted service connection as it first manifested within one year of his separation from active duty. Service connection for bilateral hand disabilities other than CTS is denied.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a right knee, left tibia, or left wrist disability for which service connection can be granted. The Veteran's complaints have not been diagnosed as disabilities and the VA examiner found no functional impairment from his reported symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need for new examinations to assess his current disability levels.