Wrist & hand decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal is not about service connection at all, but rather about rating decisions and remands for additional examinations or evidence. The appeals are related to his headaches, PTSD, right wrist overuse syndrome, left wrist overuse syndrome, and central serous retinopathy with diplopia.

The Veteran's claims for left carpal tunnel syndrome, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine with intervertebral disc syndrome, PTSD, and TDIU are being remanded due to incomplete VA opinions and need for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected right wrist disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has ordered a remand to obtain updated VA treatment records and a new examination following his scheduled surgery.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for arthritis of the right hand/wrist and an increased disability evaluation for a right wrist cyst due to insufficient reasons or bases in the decision, as well as inadequate development.

The Veteran's current left shoulder disability, identified as left shoulder strain, is not related to service.,The Veteran's current right shoulder disability, identified as right shoulder strain, is not related to service.,The Veteran’s current left hand trigger finger disability is not related to service.,The Veteran’s current right hand trigger finger disability is not related to service.,The Veteran’s current left carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is not related to service.,The Veteran’s current right CTS is not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and service connection for a right shoulder disorder and a right wrist disorder have been denied due to lack of evidence supporting the assertions.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left wrist disabilities, finding that the conditions began during service.

The Veteran's left wrist injury and fractured mandible are granted service connection, with the Board finding in favor of a grant for the left wrist condition. The case is remanded for further development regarding the rating for the mandible fracture.

The Board has granted service connection for amputation to the left wrist as secondary to service-connected residuals of radial collateral ligament repair and for mood disorder and panic disorder with agoraphobia as secondary to service-connected amputation at the left wrist.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including hypertension and unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder. The decision grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of left knee disability, pilonidal cyst, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and radiculopathy of the right upper extremity due to lack of competent evidence showing these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's additional bilateral wrist and right knee disabilities are as likely as not the result of negligence or other deviation from the standard of care during VA treatment in January 1993, which caused his pre-existing conditions to worsen.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral carpal syndrome is granted. The claims for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and hemorrhoids, as well as service connection for arthritis of the hands and wrists and vitiligo are remanded.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis was granted service connection. The right wrist condition, right shoulder condition, and chest condition were denied as not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral carpal tunnel syndromes due to insufficient evidence of more severe impairment. The current ratings of 30 percent and 20 percent are deemed appropriate based on moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include tinnitus, hearing loss disability, low back disability, right knee disability, right wrist disability, left wrist disability, acquired psychiatric disability (including depression and anxiety), heart palpitations, and a disability of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) including grinding of teeth.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, chronic right and left wrist sprain, and denied service connection for a left ankle condition, right ankle condition, lower back condition, and neck condition.

The Veteran's service-connected right wrist fracture with degenerative arthritis is alleged to have caused or aggravated his current bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, but the VA examiner did not adequately address this in their opinion. The Board has ordered a new examination and requested an addendum opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone are of sufficient severity to produce unemployability, and therefore grants a total disability rating by reason of individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for right wrist condition, right knee condition, and GERD.