Wrist & hand decisions — 2019

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions, including hemorrhoids and a left little toe callus. The claims were also dismissed due to her withdrawal of other issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to missing VA examinations and failure to report. The issues include service connection for various conditions, including fibromyalgia, lumbar spine disorder, bilateral hip disorder, enlarged lymph node in the groin region, bilateral hand carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral foot disorder, and psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for left wrist posttraumatic arthritis has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.

The Veteran's service connection claims for multiple conditions, including fibromyalgia (claimed as multiple joint aches), memory loss, migraines, and lumbar spine disability are granted. The remaining issues on appeal remain pending.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and he did not have a permanent total service-connected disability at the time of his death. The appellant's claim for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, obstructive sleep apnea, left and right wrist disabilities, and headaches due to potential service connection based on exposure to herbicides during service. The AOJ is required to confirm whether the USS Oriskany was within the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of Vietnam.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left wrist CTS, progressive ataxic syndrome, and spondylolysis are granted. The TBI residuals, orthopedic left wrist disability, and low back disability other than spondylolysis issues are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for persistent depressive disorder was denied. The effective date of the 70 percent rating for persistent depressive disorder was set at September 12, 2016. The previously denied claims for service connection were reopened.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for arthritis of the left hand was denied. The Board also remanded the issue of secondary service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome, which is related to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been dismissed as he withdrew his claims. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disorders is granted.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate and remands the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing the Veteran with new VA examinations to assess his service-connected carpal tunnel syndrome, right wrist; carpal tunnel syndrome, left wrist; right hand strain; left hand strain; and degenerative arthritis, left wrist.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's TBI, upper back disability, and carpal tunnel syndrome are all being reviewed again.

The Board denied service connection for a left leg and knee disorder, right knee disorder, hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure), left arm carpal tunnel syndrome, and sleep disorder.,An initial disability rating of 30 percent was granted for right ulnar nerve compression.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and examination, including obtaining treatment records and conducting medical examinations to determine the severity of his renal disease and any arthritis diagnoses. The Veteran will be provided a new Supplemental Statement of the Case if benefits remain denied.

The Veteran's request for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left wrist disability is denied.,The Veteran's request for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disability limited flexion is denied. However, he is granted a separate rating of 20 percent disabling for residuals of the left knee disability (instability) from September 10, 2018 onward.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for a right index finger sprain has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal. The claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for a right wrist sprain and for an initial compensable rating for a right upper extremity scar associated with a service-connected right wrist sprain are remanded.

The Veteran's left wrist condition is rated at the maximum level, and his right ankle sprain warrants a 10 percent evaluation. The claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened due to new evidence, but further development is needed before it can be adjudicated.

The Board has dismissed the claim of entitlement to a TDIU due to withdrawal by the Veteran's accredited representative. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including lumbar spine condition (claimed as back condition), GERD, mental disorder (claimed as depressive illness), hyperlipidemia, left and right carpal tunnel syndrome, left and right hip arthritis, bilateral knee arthritis, discoid lupus erythematosus, hypertension, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied. The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is not service connected due to lack of evidence showing it was incurred or aggravated during service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current broken right wrist or right knee disability and therefore denied service connection for these conditions. The issues of service connection for broken right wrist and right knee injury are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.