Wrist & hand decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hyperacusis, and bilateral feet small fiber neuropathy. The Veteran's claims for a bilateral upper arm condition (to include fatigue), bilateral wrist nerve damage, bilateral elbow nerve damage, and bilateral leg condition (to include fatigue) are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional examinations and further development due to new complaints of pain and worsening symptoms.

Service connection for a right knee disability and hypertension (HTN) has been granted. The Veteran's radial neuropathy of the right wrist is now rated with an effective date prior to May 12, 2011.,The rating in excess of 30 percent for the right shoulder disability and the rating in excess of 10 percent for the right wrist disability are both remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and consideration, including obtaining a line of duty determination, additional VA treatment records, and an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's in-service alcohol use.

The Board has remanded the claims for lipomas, right wrist nerve damage, and lipoma removal scars due to incomplete records and need for a medical opinion regarding their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral upper extremity diabetic neuropathy and cervical radiculopathy, but denied service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including back disability, prostate cancer, left hand middle and ring finger disability, glaucoma, and broken right wrist, were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted as secondary to his service-connected status post partial thyroidectomy.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, left lower extremity, right upper extremity, and left upper extremity are all granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.,The Veteran's cervical carpal tunnel syndrome is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated as noncompensable, but a higher rating of 10 percent is granted.,The Veteran's right wrist disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has remanded the issue for further development.

The Veteran's right knee instability is granted a rating of 20 percent, but no higher. The Veteran’s right wrist disability remains at the current 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance of another person, as he is unable to perform daily activities such as dressing, grooming, bathing, feeding himself, and attending to his needs. The Board has granted SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for various conditions were denied. The rating for sleep apnea was not higher than 50%. The rating for sinusitis was not higher than 10%. The right knee strain and instability, as well as the left and right carpal tunnel syndromes, all received their maximum assigned ratings of 20% and 30%, respectively.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives regarding service connection for a right wrist disability. The Veteran's osteoarthrosis of the right wrist is being examined again to determine if it is related to his in-service fracture and whether it is aggravated by any service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination due to unclear records regarding the Veteran's service in the Minnesota Army National Guard.

The Board denied service connection for a right wrist condition and a left hip condition due to the lack of current diagnoses, as pain alone without a medical diagnosis is not sufficient for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right wrist pain, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's initial 10 percent rating for right hand finger laceration, residual scar is granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The remaining service connection claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for sclerosis of the left knee, tenosynovitis of the left knee, and tendonitis of the left wrist have been dismissed as she withdrew her claims prior to a decision being made.