Wrist & hand decisions — 2019

The Veteran withdrew all her claims, including those for service connection and increased rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right hand and wrist tendinitis are currently rated at 10 percent each, with no higher ratings granted. The effective dates for the assigned ratings remain May 25, 2017.,There is no evidence of ankylosis or other conditions that would warrant a higher rating for either condition.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for a right wrist disability, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as anxiety) due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims are currently pending.

The Veteran's service-connected vision disorder, left and right wrist strain are denied. The Veteran does not have a diagnosed upper or lower extremity peripheral nerve disorder. An initial compensable rating for sinusitis is granted.

The Veteran's service connection for sleep apnea is restored, and his previously denied claims for postoperative residuals of left and right ganglion cysts are reopened. The bilateral wrist disabilities claim remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various joint and muscle pain conditions due to an undiagnosed illness, as they are related to his military service in the Southwest Asia theater.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of psoriasis and a left wrist orthopedic disability due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA examinations and reviewing additional medical records. The Veteran's claims for service connection are related to his active service, with particular focus on exposure to herbicides during his time aboard the USS Midway in Vietnam.

The Board dismissed all appeals regarding service connection for various conditions due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal in May 2019. Service connection was granted for tinnitus.

The Veteran's left wrist disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity and manifestation of his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's initial claims for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for his left wrist arthritis or painful surgical scar, status post left wrist surgery.,Effective dates for service connection have been assigned based on the date of receipt of claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder was denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim. The denial of joint disorders/arthritis, low blood pressure, headaches, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is also noted.,Service connection cannot be granted for any of these conditions due to lack of competent evidence linking them to active service or events therein.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disability and any neurological disability of the right upper extremity. The appeal is remanded to obtain medical opinions regarding these issues.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disorder, tinnitus, and left carpal tunnel syndrome. The appeal for right carpal tunnel syndrome was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including respiratory disorder (to include asthma), left wrist disability, left hand disability, lumbar spine disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The Board found that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's claims for clothing allowances were denied as the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities caused wear and tear to his clothing.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete and illegible service records, as well as inadequate examination reports. The claims will be reviewed again with new evidence obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding her bilateral knee disabilities, as well as service connection for left wrist disability. The current rating for the left wrist condition remains denied.

The Board has decided that further development is needed to determine the service connection for a left hand/wrist disorder, including whether it is related to active duty service or overuse of the non-dominant left hand due to right-hand limitations.