Wrist & hand decisions — 2019

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen her claim of service connection for a right wrist disability and has determined that she is entitled to service connection based on direct evidence showing an in-service injury and current condition.

The Board denied service connection for left wrist disability, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension. The Veteran's request to reopen the claim of service connection for a left wrist disability was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete documentation regarding her clothing allowance claims for the year 2015. The VAMC and VHA need to obtain relevant records, including those from the Debt Management Center.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left elbow disorders, diagnosed as ulnar neuropathy and medial epicondylitis, and for right and left hand disorders, diagnosed as median nerve carpal tunnel syndrome. These conditions are considered to be directly related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left wrist degenerative joint disease is service-connected as it developed due to trauma sustained during combat in May 1975.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.

The appeals for initial compensable ratings for scars of the right knee and vaginitis, as well as service connection for GERD, anemia, and diabetes mellitus Type II have been dismissed. The appeals for increased rating for right knee patellofemoral syndrome, bilateral shin splints, right forearm condition, right wrist sprain, migraine headaches, pterygia (right eye condition), sinusitis, sleep apnea secondary to chronic bladder infection, hypertension, and right leg varicose veins are REMANDED.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have worsened since the last VA examinations, and he is requesting increased ratings. The Board has ordered new examinations to assess the current severity of his left wrist, left elbow, left scapula, and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for bilateral shoulder tendonitis, elbow tendonitis, and wrist tendonitis is denied.,Right ear hearing loss and sinusitis are remanded for further evaluation.,Hypertension is also remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate reasons and bases in its decision, specifically regarding the right wrist disability. The parties agreed that the Board failed to discuss all material evidence when it found a separate nerve rating was not warranted for the Veteran's right wrist disability. They also agreed on the need to reconsider the reduction in rating from 20 percent to 10 percent.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, which render him unemployable.

The Board has granted service connection for right wrist and right ankle pain, but denied service connection for reactive airway disease (bronchitis).

The Veteran's TMJ was granted service connection. Service connection for insomnia, right wrist condition, left knee condition, and right knee condition were denied. Service connection for dry skin of scalp and face was also denied.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating and increased rating claims for bilateral hearing loss and left hand carpal tunnel are being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records, translation of foreign language documents, and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected low back strain disability necessitates the use of a low back brace, but there is no clinical or lay evidence showing that this brace causes wear and tear to his clothing. As such, he does not meet the criteria for an annual VA clothing allowance.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, anxiety, and migraine headaches have been granted. The claim for insomnia was denied. Service connection has also been established for a left wrist disorder.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU is remanded due to the submission of new VA examination reports and ongoing treatment records. The AOJ will review these documents and provide a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC).

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative spurring of the right olecranon and postoperative residuals of a right wrist injury with carpal tunnel syndrome were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support secondary service connection for the right arm conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to obtain outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as medical opinions regarding the onset and relationship of her claimed disabilities to service.

The Board has denied service connection for a right wrist disability, granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, and denied service connection for a right ankle disability and LLE radiculopathy. The case is remanded to obtain an opinion on the etiology of RLE radiculopathy.