Wrist & hand decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right wrist condition is granted, effective July 1, 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left wrist disabilities due to a lack of an opinion linking these conditions to his military service. The case will be sent back for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions, including lymphadenopathy, right shoulder disorder, arthritis, right wrist disorder, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, migraine headaches, and tinnitus. The Veteran's period of service is noted to be during a period of INACDUTRA, which does not allow for service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claim for GERD is granted, but his claim for bilateral CTS is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent her from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, resulting in the grant of TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral arm/shoulder disability, low back disability, left knee disability, bilateral ankle and foot disabilities, bilateral eye disability (claimed as myopia), left ear hearing loss, and PTSD. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability or a causal relationship to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected hand, elbow, and wrist disabilities are being remanded for further assessment due to the lack of recent examinations. The VA needs to schedule new examinations that comply with Correia v. McDonald and Sharp v. Shulkin.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left wrist recurrent/persistent ganglion cyst, attributing her pain and functional loss to carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a low back disability and remanded all other claims due to insufficient evidence in the previous examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his military service and are related to his duties.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome and right elbow condition as secondary to a service-connected right scaphoid injury due to inadequate examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions were denied as they are not related to military service. The Board found the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions began during or were aggravated by active duty.

The Veteran's arthritis of the hips and knees are granted service connection, but his hand disability is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than May 31, 2015 for service-connected disorders was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not submit a timely application for benefits prior to his discharge from active duty on May 30, 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and entitlement to TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board found no link between the claimed disability and active duty service, and concluded that the Veteran is not unemployable due to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance/housebound status is denied because he does not meet the necessary requirements under 38 U.S.C. § 1114.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right elbow arthritis, right hand arthritis, right hip arthritis, right knee arthritis, right shoulder arthritis, right wrist arthritis, and right ankle arthritis due to a lack of evidence showing current disability attributable to active service. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding these conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist disability, ear disability, sinusitis, carpal tunnel on the left side, carpal tunnel on the right side, and acquired psychiatric disorder. Service connection is granted for all conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his hernia condition, right wrist sprain, and DDD with low back strain have been denied. The Board found no current disability related to the hernia surgery or testicular pain, and did not find ankylosis in the DDD with low back strain case.