Wrist & hand decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, as well as to obtain updated VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that additional medical examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of any right shoulder, right wrist, right thumb, or right finger (including right ring finger) disabilities. The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities may also be considered in relation to his left hip disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right arm, right wrist, left wrist, low back, right knee, and left knee conditions did not have their onset during active service or are otherwise related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left hand, right hand, left wrist, and right wrist disabilities due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's current diagnoses of carpal tunnel syndrome are not related to his service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left wrist/hand disability, including any chronic residuals and status post tendon repair, is not service-connected. The case is being sent back for further examination to determine if there are any current disabilities related to his in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to internal inconsistencies in previous opinions and lack of verification of mustard gas exposure. The claims are also remanded for a TDIU determination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left wrist and bilateral shoulder disabilities due to outstanding VA treatment records, notification issues, and need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right wrist fusion were denied. The Board found that the current ratings of 40 percent and 50 percent, respectively, are appropriate given the findings from VA examinations indicating unfavorable ankylosis in any degree of palmar flexion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any wrist or knee disability, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions. The claims are denied.

The Veteran's claim for left ear hearing loss has been granted, as new and material evidence was submitted. Service connection is also established for OSA secondary to service-connected PTSD.,Service connection is denied for various wrist, ankle, foot, eye, and headache disorders due to lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right knee condition, hernia, and right wrist condition due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The claims for increased ratings for erectile dysfunction, left wrist tenosynovitis, and right wrist tenosynovitis are denied. The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left foot neuropathy disability, and right foot neuropathy disability are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left hand and wrist disability, including second metacarpal degenerative joint disease and carpal tunnel syndrome, has been dismissed as the Veteran and his representative have withdrawn their appeal.

The Veteran's left and right wrist disabilities have been granted initial ratings of 10% each, effective November 15, 2010. The Veteran's sinusitis has not met the criteria for a compensable rating. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is rated at 50%.,An initial rating in excess of 10% for left and right wrist disabilities prior to November 24, 2014, and an initial rating in excess of 10% thereafter has been denied.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted service connection, but his right ear hearing loss and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome are denied. The eye disorder claim is also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ankle, bilateral wrist, and left shoulder disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding functional loss or impairment.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection have been remanded by the Board. The appeals are related to his bilateral foot, gastrointestinal, right wrist, left inguinal, and left ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development to verify in-service stressors and obtain VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral wrist sprains, and knee conditions.

Posttraumatic stress disorder, right wrist strain (status-post proximal row carpectomy), and tinnitus have been granted service connection.,Lumbar degenerative disc disease, status-post L3-4 fusion has been granted service connection but denied for increased ratings.,A low back scar has been granted service connection but denied for increased ratings.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on all issues except for his claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and whether new and material evidence has been presented to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD. The claims are being remanded for further action.