Wrist & hand decisions — 2019

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for hypertension. Service connection is also granted for hypertension. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities, as well as right carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's radiculopathy, cervical spine disability, bilateral hip and knee disabilities, bilateral ankle disability, erectile dysfunction, and carpal tunnel syndrome of the upper extremities are not service-connected as they did not manifest in service or due to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder has been rated at 100 percent disabling, which renders the issue of TDIU moot as it no longer meets the criteria for a separate disability rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for clothing allowances for his right knee and right wrist braces due to lack of evidence showing wear and tear on his clothing. The left knee brace was found to cause wear and tear, but no service connection is in effect for a right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional development. The issues include right and left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, left hip disability, right hip disability, eye disability, hemorrhoids, and left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination. The Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome is granted service connection, but his skin condition and right elbow disability are not yet determined.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for polyarteritis nodosa (PAN), mononeuritis multiplex, left wrist drop, and right foot drop. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to her Persian Gulf War service or any other period of active duty.

The Veteran is granted service connection for various musculoskeletal and neurological conditions, including neck pain, low back pain, shoulder pain, wrist pain, hip pain, arm and hand pain, knee pain, foot pain, headaches, and skin symptoms. These conditions are presumed to be related to his military service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.

The Board has remanded the case for further consideration, including a review of new evidence and potential extraschedular TDIU determination.

The Veteran's request to reopen claims for right knee patellofemoral syndrome, right shoulder pain, chronic headaches, head injury with facial reconstruction (now claimed as traumatic brain injury), and cervical strain were denied. The claim for CTS of the right wrist was granted.,The Veteran's requests to increase his PTSD rating and service connection for substance abuse secondary to PTSD are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral hand disabilities are remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need for further examinations.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and bilateral thumb conditions due to insufficient information on their etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right wrist disability, finding that his current condition is not related to his in-service injury and does not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran's left wrist condition is already rated at the maximum 10 percent level due to limitation of motion, and there is no joint ankylosis or separately ratable pathology. The claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist condition, left knee condition, and asbestosis have been reopened. The claim for skin cancer has already been granted.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran’s asbestosis due to in-service exposure to asbestos.

Service connection is granted for right and left knee osteoarthritis, acute idiopathic tachycardia (rapid heart rate), gynecological disability, status-post myomectomy for uterine fibroids, left wrist disability, right wrist disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability.

The Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is granted as service connected, with the Board finding that his current condition is related to his in-service occupational duties.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding her TBI, bilateral hip disability, fibromyalgia, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral wrist disability other than CTS.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome did not begin during her active service and is not related to any in-service injury, event, or illness. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left wrist disability, and right wrist disability has been granted.,Service connection for cervical spine condition and vertigo has also been granted.