Wrist & hand decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded the cases for further development regarding right wrist fracture residuals, asthma, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims for carpal tunnel syndrome and peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity due to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Veteran needs to provide private treatment records, and a new VA examination is required to determine if these conditions are related to his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as his right foot, cervical spine, right hip, and right leg disabilities are granted. The Veteran’s right wrist disability claim is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, achilles tendonitis, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, low back disability, pes planus, bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, edema of the lower extremities, residuals of a head injury, migraine headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, sciatica of the left leg, and psychiatric disorder manifested by a head injury, all related to Reserve service. The Board found that there was no evidence of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated during ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues with determining a higher rating for the left wrist disability and assigning an effective date for service connection of left arm neuropathy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, hypertension, neurological disorders of the lower and upper extremities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his bilateral knee conditions and service connection for low back disability and wrist disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right wrist disability is denied. A separate rating of 30 percent, but no higher, for peripheral neuropathy with ulnar nerve involvement of the right upper extremity is granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen claims for service connection for right knee disorder, right wrist fracture/ganglion of the right wrist, and dorsal spine injury. These issues are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for residuals of a fractured left wrist with residual scar is being remanded due to the need for additional examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea. The Veteran is seeking service connection for sleep apnea, left wrist condition, and left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right wrist disorder, bilateral pes planus, left and right ankle disorders, and low back disorder due to additional development being needed.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and his claim for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is remanded for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for a right leg disability and denied increased ratings for various upper extremity disabilities due to the Amputation Rule, which limits combined ratings for disabilities of an extremity.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's bilateral knee pain, ankle pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome were not shown to have begun during service or be related to in-service injury or disease.,Hypercholesterolemia is a laboratory finding without underlying disability. The claim for this condition is denied.,Hypertension was not shown within the first post-service year and there is no evidence of its onset during service. The claim is denied.,Dyspnea (shortness of breath) was not shown within the first post-service year and there is no evidence of its onset during service. The claim is denied.,The Veteran's heart disabilities were not shown to have begun during service or be related to in-service injury or disease. The claims are denied.

Effective dates of August 2, 2010 have been granted for all service-connected conditions and benefits.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected right hand scar, effective from the date of claim. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and right wrist fracture with arthritis and deformity remain denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations. The issues include recurrent skin disabilities, foot disabilities, arthritis of the knees, tinnitus, carpal tunnel syndromes, gout, hypertension, vascular disabilities, pulmonary disability, prostate disability, hernia disability, and left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis is granted service connection and an effective date of July 6, 2012.,An unspecified anxiety disorder is granted service connection with an effective date of July 6, 2012.,GERD is granted service connection with an effective date of May 4, 2015.,The Veteran's left wrist disability and right foot and left foot frostbite residuals are remanded for further action regarding earlier effective dates.,Right foot and left foot frostbite residuals with degenerative changes are also remanded for further action regarding earlier effective dates.