Wrist & hand decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for a right hand disability, wrist, elbow, and upper extremity nerves as related to the Veteran's in-service injury. The decision is based on the Veteran's statements, his current disability, and service treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting medical opinions and incomplete service records. The issues of service connection for heart disease, bilateral knee disorders, elbow disorders, wrist disorder, hip disorders, shin splints, and GERD are being referred back for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for cervical radiculopathy and carpal tunnel syndrome of both upper extremities due to pending issues regarding an effective date prior to September 15, 2014.

The reduction of the disability rating for cervical spine intervertebral disc syndrome from 30 percent to 20 percent was not proper, and restoration of the 30 percent rating is granted.,The reduction of the disability rating for carpal tunnel syndrome (right hand) from 30 percent to 10 percent was also not proper, and restoration of the 30 percent rating is granted.

The Board has granted increased staged ratings for bilateral CTS and denied service connection for GERD. The Veteran's effective date for PTSD was also set aside. The case is being remanded due to the improper reliance on a May 2016 VA examination.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to incomplete records and inadequate examination reports. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical evidence, including treatment records from VA facilities and SSA records. He also needs to undergo further examinations for his neck, low back, and right shoulder disabilities, as well as a psychiatric examination.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left and right upper extremities. Service connection was granted for peripheral neuropathy of all four extremities, with a presumption that it is related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for right wrist degenerative arthritis and TDIU prior to May 17, 2019 are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining a VA opinion regarding his employment capacity and referring the TDIU claim to the Compensation Service Director for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now pending. The Board has found new and material evidence to support the reopening of his claims.

The Veteran's right wrist ganglion cyst and right wrist scar from ganglion cyst removal have worsened since their last VA examinations. The Board finds that a more contemporaneous medical examination is warranted, including an assessment of functional limitations during flare-ups.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his left knee osteoarthritis, right wrist strain, patellar tracking disorder, and meniscus tear. Additional evidence was added since the July 2018 SOC, including VA medical records from April and June 2019, and a May 2019 VA examination record. The Veteran's claims will be remanded for further review of this additional evidence.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is proximately due to service-connected conditions, including asthma and depressive disorder. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and right wrist disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's representative contends there is a relationship between his sleep impairment related to PTSD and his diabetes. A new VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of both conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding functional loss during flare-ups for the right knee condition. The claim for service connection and TDIU rating is pending.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip osteoarthritis, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD). The Veteran's major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder are found to be related to her service-connected PTSD. A 30 percent disability rating is assigned for left hip osteoarthritis with limitation of flexion.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for residuals of corneal abrasions, pterygium, a bilateral hand rash, and left wrist infection have been dismissed. The claim for tinea pedis of the right foot was also dismissed.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for linear appendectomy scars and right wrist disability have been dismissed. The appeal for residuals of appendectomy has been remanded.

The Board has found that a remand is warranted for new VA examinations to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities and right wrist disability due to evidence of worsening since the last VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, a back disability, a left wrist disability, and a right wrist disability due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been withdrawn. A TDIU rating is granted from June 10, 2014, based on his service-connected right median nerve laceration.