Wrist & hand decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right wrist and bilateral knee disabilities due to incomplete examinations and conflicting medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's service connection claims for further examination and review due to incomplete STRs and insufficient examinations in September 2015.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating of 50 percent or higher for PTSD has been granted, effective from the date of this decision. The Veteran is currently rated at 30 percent for his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome and ureteral stenosis, status-post stent, are granted. The Veteran's right hip disorder and left hip disorder are denied. The Veteran's thrombophlebitis of the left popliteal vein is granted as secondary to adenocarcinoma of the colon.,The Veteran has been granted service connection for his right carpal tunnel syndrome and ureteral stenosis, status-post stent, but not for his hip disorders or thrombophlebitis. The appeal is mixed.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate VA examinations and incomplete treatment records.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for a left knee disorder was granted. The appeal is granted solely on this issue, and the other issues are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the bilateral knees, ankles, shoulders, and wrists due to inadequate examination in a prior decision. The examiner is asked to provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s diagnosed conditions are related to his active duty military service.

The Veteran's dermatitis of the right wrist and forearm is granted a 10 percent disability evaluation, effective from April 8, 2009. The Veteran's vertigo remains at a 10 percent disability evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and initial ratings have been denied. The Board found that the criteria for an earlier effective date were not met, as the effective date assigned was the day following discharge from service. For other issues, no higher rating could be assigned based on current evidence.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed before the claims for service connection for left wrist and low back disorders can be adjudicated. The Veteran's symptoms of pain and functional limitations may have been incurred in active service, warranting VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a right wrist disability and a right thigh/hip disability, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus between current conditions and service. The Veteran's assertions were outweighed by medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA medical opinion to address all pertinent evidence of record, including the Veteran's credible testimony of a continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral foot onychomycosis has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied due to lack of a current diagnosis and credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor actually occurred.

The Veteran's service-connected left wrist and right knee disabilities are rated at 10% each. The Board has remanded the cases for further development to obtain medical records and allow the Veteran another opportunity to submit a private DBQ supporting his claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right wrist disability is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and evaluation.

The Board has decided that a new VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's left wrist disorder and whether it is related to his service-connected right wrist disability.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death during the appeal process.

Service connection for right wrist arthritis is denied as the Veteran's pre-existing condition did not manifest during service or within one year of separation.,Service connection for disability manifested by right hip pain is remanded due to potential secondary service connection with obesity caused by service-connected lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy.