Wrist & hand decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 30, 2015 for the grant of service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, left wrist sprain (non-dominant), right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right shin splints with stress fractures was denied. The effective date is set at September 30, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left elbow disability, right elbow disability, bilateral upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, and PTSD. The claim for increased rating of tinnitus was also denied.

The Board has determined that new examinations are necessary to evaluate the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including her right elbow condition, left knee condition, bilateral ankle conditions, TBI (head trauma), bilateral wrist ulnar neuritis, and migraines. The Veteran is also asked to provide any relevant private treatment records or other evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for migraine headaches and left/right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of a left wrist fracture due to insufficient range of motion findings and lack of retrospective medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected right wrist strain, peripheral autonomic neuropathy, and PTSD have been denied. The denial is based on the current level of disability as supported by medical evidence.

The Veteran's left wrist ganglion cyst is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has granted a separate initial rating of 10 percent for painful motion of the left wrist, finding that this disability is related to service and not contemplated by the current rating.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and mental health disorders. The specific issues include fibromyalgia, left shoulder condition, left side back condition, cervical spine condition, left hand muscle failure, hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, total abdominal hysterectomy, skin condition, headaches (including as secondary to seizures), carpal tunnel syndromes, seizures (to include as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder), memory loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board also requested additional evidence related to the Veteran's claims for service connection based on personal assault.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including shoulder, elbow, foot/toes numbness, wrist, knee, ankle, eye, vertigo, breathing difficulties, and hypertension have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to military service.

The Board has denied service connection for a 'medical' disability and remanded the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability. The case is now pending with instructions to obtain relevant medical records and schedule a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis in shoulders, wrists, knees, ankles, and feet as secondary to his service-connected Crohn’s disease with small intestine resection and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Veteran's request for an increased rating for right wrist laceration residuals was denied. The case regarding the effective date of a 70% PTSD rating is remanded due to factual disputes and new evidence received.

The Veteran's claims for left wrist tendonitis and residuals of fractured coccyx are denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence of a disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left shoulder torn tendon with tendonitis and bursitis is remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding in-service diagnoses.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left elbow tendonitis, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, torn meniscus, and osteoarthritis, as well as left knee patellofemoral syndrome are all remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding in-service diagnoses.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ankle torn ligament is remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding in-service diagnoses.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been denied. The Board found no current disabilities related to the claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including those related to the Veteran's lumbar spine, right and left ankle, left elbow, right elbow, cervical spine, thoracic spine, left wrist, right wrist, left hip, right hip, right knee, left knee, and chronic bronchitis disabilities. The claims are being returned to the RO for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since April 3, 2013. The Board has granted TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical spine, left shoulder, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, lymphatic cancer of the neck, oropharyngeal or tonsil cancer, and hypertension are all remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is also required to undergo a new VA examination to evaluate his acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and insomnia).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA, right wrist CTS, and left wrist CTS was denied. The decision also found that the Veteran did not meet criteria for increased ratings for his wrist conditions prior to December 9, 2015.

The Veteran's left wrist brace causes wear and tear to his clothing, warranting a clothing allowance for the year 2017.