Wrist & hand decisions — 2019

The Veteran's back disorder was granted service connection. The remaining claims for various other disorders were denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The left wrist and PTSD issues are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service connection claims were granted, and he was awarded evaluations for various conditions. The Board also found that some issues required further review.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left and right upper extremities are being remanded due to insufficient evidence from a 2016 examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including right knee degenerative changes, trigger finger in multiple fingers on his left hand, carpal tunnel syndrome in his left wrist, left wrist pain, and tinnitus. The reasons are that VA needs to obtain relevant medical records, provide new VA examinations or opinions regarding these conditions, and consider the Veteran's lay statements about his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder has been rated at 50 percent prior to December 27, 2018 and at 70 percent thereafter. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,For the period starting from December 27, 2018, the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder has been rated at 70 percent. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities which were considered static in nature reached a combined evaluation of 100 percent as of July 1, 2006. The Board found that the criteria for establishment of basic eligibility to Chapter 35 Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits were satisfied as of this date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional VA medical examinations.,The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating issues.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of October 5, 2012 for PTSD is granted. An evaluation of 100 percent for PTSD is granted from that date. The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as his PTSD alone meets the schedular criteria for a 100% rating. SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance (A&A) is granted due to the Veteran's PTSD, which causes him to require daily supervision for activities of daily living.

The Veteran's left wrist posttraumatic degenerative joint disease is granted service connection. The issue of service connection for the lumbar spine condition remains pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a mental disability due to military sexual trauma is denied as there is no evidence of such a condition.,A right wrist disability, status post distal radius fracture, has been granted with a separate 20 percent rating effective from May 31, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for serous otitis media, right wrist disorder, low back disorder, and right knee condition are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Board has found that further development is necessary before the claims can be properly adjudicated, and has ordered remand for obtaining VA treatment records and for providing the Veteran with contemporaneous examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hypogonadism was granted service connection, while the issues of left ear disorder, genitourinary disorder, digestive and/or gastrointestinal disorder, and bilateral median nerve neuropathy were remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left wrist disability, finding no current diagnosis and insufficient evidence to establish functional impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of her left wrist condition and an increased rating for her persistent depressive disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist, low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to VA examinations not addressing recent symptomatology or in-service exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the in-service left upper extremity ganglion cyst and the current left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hand-arm vibration syndrome and right carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that there was no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left wrist and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to insufficient medical evidence. The VA will provide the Veteran with additional records, conduct examinations, and determine if his conditions are related to his military service.