Wrist & hand decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed because he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient service treatment records and a need for further examination regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right upper extremity condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to report for a VA examination, and also requested additional treatment records.

The Veteran's dental disorder and traumatic arthritis of the right wrist are being remanded for further evaluation. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to a recent job loss.

The Board has remanded several issues on appeal due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right wrist condition has been reopened. However, the Board finds that there is no current diagnosis of a left wrist condition and his right wrist strain was not incurred in or related to his active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right wrist and hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of ankylosis or diastolic pressure of predominantly 110 or more, or systolic pressure of predominantly 200 or more. As a result, the Veteran's current ratings of 10 percent for both conditions are maintained.

The Veteran's initial increased ratings for right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome and related conditions have been denied.,Issues regarding the Veteran's right and left medial epicondylitis, as well as his shoulder rotator cuff tears, are remanded for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for various disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed for bilateral hearing loss and left eye disability. The initial rating of PTSD prior to April 27, 2017, is granted at a 70% level. Other claims are remanded.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his right elbow disability was denied. The RO granted an increased initial 60 percent evaluation for the Veteran’s service-connected residuals of a right arm injury, rated as residuals of fractures to the right elbow, effective July 6, 2017.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for narcolepsy, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral wrist disability, depression, hypertension and abnormal heartbeat, left ear hearing loss, and migraine headaches.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence added to the record, and also requested additional opinions from a VA examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disorder and left knee disorder.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a left shoulder disability, left wrist disability, cervical spine disability, or right finger numbness related to service.,There is also no current evidence of a left and/or right knee disability or colitis related to service.

Service connection is granted for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and bilateral cubital tunnel syndrome.,Service connection is also granted for major depressive disorder, but not as PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities from June 27, 2009, to September 7, 2013. The assigned schedular evaluations were found adequate and no referral for extraschedular consideration was required.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new VA examination to address the Veteran's symptoms of numbness and tingling in his right wrist, as well as any neurological manifestations.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding whether PTSD aggravated dementia, which was a contributing factor to the Veteran's death. The Veteran had service-connected disabilities but did not meet the legal criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Veteran's claims for clothing allowances related to left wrist, right knee, and back braces are denied as he is not service-connected for any of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for various conditions due to unclear dates and nature of the Veteran's military service. The case will be returned to VA for further development.