Wrist & hand decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left ankle arthritis is denied due to lack of limitation of motion and no evidence of pain or other symptoms that would warrant higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.,The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits is denied as he did not serve during a period of war, nor was his service connected with any disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is remanded to obtain additional VA and private treatment records that may be pertinent to the claim.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for right wrist sprain is remanded to obtain an addendum medical opinion from the March 2017 VA examiner regarding whether any preexisting right distal radius fracture was aggravated by active duty service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded to obtain additional VA and private treatment records that may be pertinent to the claim.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left shoulder and wrist conditions, maxillary sinus fracture with hypersensitivity, and PTSD. The remand requests additional medical opinions on nerve damage from a maxillary sinus fracture and progression of shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The right wrist osteoarthritis claim was denied as the condition does not meet criteria for a higher rating, while the PTSD with anxiety, panic attacks and depression claim resulted in an earlier effective date of November 29, 2011.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a positive purified protein derivative test, left foot compartment syndrome, and right foot plantar fasciitis. The issues of service connection for left shoulder tendonitis and right wrist tendonitis have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left shoulder disorder, heart disease, residuals of a head injury other than headaches, right and left CTS due to failure to provide VA medical opinions and examinations as requested in prior remands. The rating issues related to temporary total ratings for bilateral CTS are also remanded as they are dependent on the outcome of these service connection issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for residuals of a right wrist injury and residuals of a head injury due to incomplete medical records and the need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for shin splints, neuropathy of the right upper extremity, neuropathy of the left upper extremity, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and a right shoulder condition due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's current diagnoses are not established.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence, but the issues of service connection for myotonic dystrophy, left demyelinating median motor mononeuropathy, and left carpal tunnel syndrome remain remanded for further development.

The Board has found that additional development is needed due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as inadequate examinations for the claims of service connection for bilateral knees, right shoulder impingement, lumbar spine strain, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.

Service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome is granted. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left wrist ganglion cyst is dismissed. An initial rating in excess of 20 percent for trauma induced chronic subscapular bursitis in the left shoulder is denied. A TDIU is granted. The claims for service connection for sleep apnea, nerve damage to the neck, and PTSD are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining any form of gainful employment prior to May 12, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss has been denied as she does not have a current disability.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right elbow injury, left big toe injury, right knee arthritis, and right wrist injury are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is also remanded as the VA examiner did not consider whether her hearing loss was aggravated during a period of active duty.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of ganglion cyst—right wrist and chronic sprain/strain—carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), right. The appeal for CTS was granted to reopen, but remanded for further rating consideration.

The Board denied an increased rating for left wrist recurrent ganglion cyst, finding that the evidence did not establish ankylosis and thus a higher rating was not warranted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions due to the need for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome is rated at 50 percent effective August 22, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that any of his claimed conditions are related to military service or secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran requested to withdraw all issues currently on appeal before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his knee and wrist conditions due to inadequate examinations and failure to address certain issues.

The Board has granted service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) of the right and left wrists, finding that it is related to service.