Wrist & hand decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and a lack of medical nexus evidence. The Veteran is seeking service connection for left wrist tendonitis, bilateral knee disabilities, an eye disability, and obstructive sleep apnea, all claimed as related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right knee disability, carpal tunnel syndrome of the left hand, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, were denied as there is no confirmation in the evidence that he has these disabilities during the pendency of his appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for major depressive disorder due to insufficient information in the December 2016 VA examiner's opinion. The examiner did not provide a clear determination on whether the Veteran’s depression is directly related to service or secondary to his cervical spine disability, and their conclusion that it was more likely caused by alcohol dependence during a separate examination is not supported by the evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left wrist disorder, left arm disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension are granted as these conditions are found to have originated during active service.

The Board has remanded several claims, including service connection for left wrist scars, dermatitis of bilateral lower extremities, a lower abdominal muscle strain, respiratory disorder (rhinitis and sinusitis), and an acquired psychiatric condition. The Veteran's claim for service connection is pending.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder strain, lumbar degenerative disc disease (claimed as lower back strain), left carpal tunnel syndrome, and right carpal tunnel syndrome. The appeals are denied.

The Veteran's annual VA clothing allowance for the year 2014 due to use of a motorized wheelchair (a Permobil Power Wheelchair) is being remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine if his wheelchair tends to wear or tear his clothing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, numbness of the arms claimed as carpal tunnel syndrome, and a dental condition have all been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, right wrist CTS, and left wrist CTS. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for residuals of bilateral hand and wrist injuries, PTSD, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, right hip osteoporosis, scar residuals of squamous cell carcinoma, actinic-seborrheic keratosis, and basal cell carcinoma. The remand requires additional medical examinations and development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the bilateral wrists, hypertension, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU, but evidence indicates they prevent employment. The case is remanded to determine if an extraschedular rating is warranted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted. However, the appeals for other conditions remain pending as they require further development.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, both found to be related to service. Service connection is denied for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.,Secondary service connection claims for eye disability, hypertension, sleep apnea, and radiculopathy of the upper and lower extremities are remanded.

The Veteran's right wrist condition has worsened since his last VA examination, and the case is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right wrist, left and/or right knee, and headache disorders due to a lack of competent evidence showing current disabilities related to these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the initial rating for tinnitus is denied as there is no legal basis to award a higher schedular evaluation. The issues of service connection for fibromyalgia, CFS, headaches, CTS, restless leg syndrome, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for a right wrist fracture and remanded the issue of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee degenerative joint disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including left arm disorder, right arm disorder, right wrist disorder, eye disorder, left ear hearing loss, and unspecified lung condition. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has granted service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae (claimed as skin sensitivity) and remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, a right wrist laceration, and post-traumatic stress disorder.