Wrist & hand decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing STRs and outstanding treatment records. The issues include various knee, shoulder, hand, stomach, and psychiatric disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his left index finger disability and service connection for his left wrist disability, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his service-connected left index finger disability.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any left elbow and left wrist disorders, including whether they are related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's right wrist degenerative joint disease has been rated at 10 percent since September 16, 2011. The Board denied a higher rating as the evidence does not support an increase in disability beyond what is already accounted for by the current rating.

The Veteran's lumbar spine and left wrist disabilities are remanded for further evaluation due to missed VA examinations. The cases will be rescheduled for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his right wrist condition, back injury, ankle condition, knee conditions, and Pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) due to incomplete medical records and inadequate opinions regarding etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for cervical spine and left arm or wrist disabilities due to a lack of adequate opinion regarding whether these conditions are aggravated by his service-connected back and shoulder disabilities. The VA will need to obtain updated medical records, provide an addendum opinion, and review the case before making a decision.

The Board has decided that a remand is necessary to ensure proper consideration of the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected right wrist disability, including pain. The decision also notes that VA treatment records and any additional examination reports should be obtained.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's vocational goals are not reasonably feasible due to his ongoing alcohol abuse and psychiatric disabilities, leading to a denial of VR&E services.

The Veteran is currently in receipt of a 30% rating for her right shoulder disability, effective January 13, 2015. She contends that the shoulder disability increased in severity prior to this date.,The Veteran is currently in receipt of a 30% rating for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand, effective January 2, 2015. She contests the effective date.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right wrist carpel tunnel syndrome, left wrist carpel tunnel syndrome, and PTSD were dismissed due to withdrawal. The appeal for reopening of service connection for PTSD was granted, but the claim for service connection for PTSD itself was denied. Appeals for service connection for right hip disorder, right knee disorder, and right foot disorder were remanded.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is not service-connected.,Service connection for sleep apnea has been granted based on a diagnosis after service and exposure to burn pit smoke during service.

The Board has granted service connection for left wrist arthritis, as residuals of a left hand injury other than neurological impairment.,The Board has also granted service connection for neurological impairment of the upper left extremity, including nerve compression syndrome and carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral elbow, wrist, knee, ankle disabilities and lumbar disability due to lack of compliance with prior remand directives. A VA examination is required to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea with COPD and irritable bowel syndrome, have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeals were remanded due to the need for further evaluation and evidence. The right wrist condition remains rated at 10 percent, while the left foot condition is also currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine, cervical spine, and bilateral hip disabilities are not service connected as they did not manifest during or within one year after service. The right hand/wrist disorder is also not service connected due to lack of continuity of symptomatology.

The appeal of service connection for sleep apnea is dismissed. The appeals for right wrist injury, neck injury, left hip injury, right ankle injury, and left ankle injury are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of both ankles, bilateral elbow disability, and left hand disability as secondary to residuals of left knee injury with instability.

The Veteran's appeals seeking revision of the March 1995 rating decision regarding hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, seborrheic dermatitis of the face and scalp, and right hand and wrist rash on the basis of CUE have been dismissed based on res judicata.