Wrist & hand decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, asbestosis, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, and right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome. The reasons given were that the evidence did not support a finding of current disability or a link to military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to adjudicate the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to treatment at the Nashville VA Medical Center in April 2011, and has remanded the case for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is of service origin and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition. The remaining issues are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for Parkinson’s disease and right shoulder, left shoulder, left wrist, right hip, and left hip disabilities due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral wrist tenosynovitis has been reopened and granted.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disorder is denied as the condition did not manifest within one year of service discharge and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology. The Board finds that the Veteran’s current back disability is more likely related to his civilian work rather than service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected right wrist condition, residual scars, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not warrant a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is currently rated at 10 percent, effective August 9, 2013. The Board denied a higher rating as there was no evidence of ankylosis or other basis for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal has been returned for further review. His right knee osteoarthritis with retropatellar pain syndrome and instability are being remanded, as is his claim for left carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for her residual surgical scar status post ganglion cyst removal have been denied. Her right shoulder and right wrist CTS issues are remanded.,The Board has referred the Veteran’s claims of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) of the right wrist, as these matters require additional development.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for right wrist disability and IBS, as well as the effective dates for PTSD and DEA benefits, have been dismissed.

The Board has decided that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right hand disorder other than carpal tunnel syndrome and residuals of frostbite to the hands. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the threshold schedular TDIU criteria and have resolved all doubt in favor of the claim, granting a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for extraschedular ratings and TDIU were denied due to his failure to report for necessary VA examinations.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for left wrist disability, cervical spine disability, and right wrist disability including CTS. The appeals of service connection for heart disease, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, neuropathy of the upper extremities, and PTSD are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found insufficient evidence to support the Veteran’s assertions of in-service injury or current disability, leading to a denial of his claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD with depressive disorder and gastritis were dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of these claims.,New evidence was received to reopen claims for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and hypertension.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various disabilities have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.,The Veteran has withdrawn all issues except for entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability, right knee disability, back disability, neck disability, sleep disability, and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a neck disorder, left knee disorder, and left wrist disorder due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities are granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The issues of gout of the right and left feet, and a right wrist disorder remain remanded for further examination.