Wrist & hand decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but further evidence is needed to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left wrist ganglion cyst and denied his claim for service connection for gastrointestinal disorder to include acid reflux.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claims for PTSD, hypertension, and high blood sugar was granted. The petitions for service connection of left wrist disorder, right wrist disorder, bilateral pes planus, and left knee disorder were remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been reopened, and he is entitled to a rating more than 10 percent for his right wrist scar after October 9, 2014. His claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder degenerative joint disease with rotator cuff tendonitis, right elbow osteoarthritis, and right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome as these conditions are found to be aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected right hand ulnar styloid fracture with degenerative arthritis of the carpal bones.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and earlier effective dates are being remanded due to the need for further consideration of the evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a right hand/wrist condition has been dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board has denied service connection for fibromyalgia and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD issue is remanded due to conflicting evidence and lay testimony.,There are no current diagnoses of fibromyalgia or bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, with the exception of a possible diagnosis of myofascial pain syndrome for fibromyalgia.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding a compensable evaluation for hypertension. The TDIU claim is denied, and the sleep apnea syndrome claim is remanded for further review.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's left wrist disability, effective from May 6, 2013. The appeal is remanded for further consideration of the claim for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased rating, service connection for sleep apnea, heart disease, and hypertension due to lack of development. The Veteran's right wrist condition is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions. The issues include TBI, cervical spine disability, right wrist disability, and prostatitis.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and a right shoulder condition, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against a link to service.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on multiple disabilities have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left knee degenerative joint disease with scar, and an increased rating for a left wrist disability due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's CTS and asthma are granted as service connected. The Board found that the evidence was in equipoise for CTS, but did not address Asthma.

The Board denied service connection for a right wrist cyst and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), finding no evidence of in-service injury or onset, and the Veteran's claims were not credible.

The Veteran's TBI disability is rated at 40 percent, effective April 8, 2019. The Board denied increased ratings for his TBI and service connection claims for right elbow, wrist, knee, and left knee conditions.

The Veteran's claims for VR&E benefits, including retroactive payment for education expenses and outside of the United States services, were denied as he did not meet eligibility criteria due to lack of employment handicap and refusal of employment services.

The Board dismissed the appeals for bilateral hearing loss and left shoulder disability as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision. The right wrist and elbow neurological disabilities, and COPD are remanded for further evaluation.