Wrist & hand decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to make a fully informed decision on these issues.

The Veteran's appeals for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 1, 2015 and a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD are dismissed. The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo is granted. The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for hearing loss, service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome (left upper extremity), service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome (right upper extremity), and service connection for unspecified disability to account for joint pain of all joints are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran should be afforded new VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his right knee disability, left CTS, and right CTS. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is secondary to his service-connected PTSD and residuals of right wrist fracture with chronic sprain. However, further clarification on whether these conditions caused or aggravated OSA is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to errors in their duty to assist and failure to provide adequate reasons or bases for denying a separate rating for his right elbow disability under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for hypertension, and denied all other claims due to lack of a causal relationship between the conditions and service.

The Board denied service connection for back, right knee, right hip, and right wrist disorders due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or any other basis.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions, including right ear hearing loss, left wrist disorder, low back disorder, cervical spine disorder, traumatic cognitive disorder (mental disorder due to traumatic fall), seizure disorder, and left knee disorder. The appeals are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating prior to January 16, 2018 for residual bilateral postoperative scars, carpal tunnel and cubital decompression was denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of a claim or disability related to the scars prior to the date selected by the RO.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left ankle, right knee, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and headaches due to insufficient evidence of current disabilities or causal relationship.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate examination reports and failure to provide an adequate opinion regarding functional loss during flare-ups.

The Board has granted service connection for right hand carpal tunnel syndrome, upper and lower back disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and tinnitus. The conditions are found to have begun during active service.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the left wrist is granted a 10 percent rating, but no higher. The scars of the left wrist and palm are rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disorder, bilateral knee DJD, right hand disorder, and bilateral hip disorder as secondary to his service-connected DM Type II with ED.,The Board also denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a digestive disorder, including GERD, hiatal hernia, polyps, and IBS, as secondary to his service-connected DM Type II with ED.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for residuals of left wrist fracture, kidney disorder, bilateral eye disorder, and lung disorder have been granted. The petitions to reopen the remaining issues are pending.

The Veteran's claim to reopen a service connection for a psychiatric disorder is granted. The left wrist fracture residuals are now rated at 10 percent, effective July 6, 2015.

The Veteran's initial rating for his service-connected right wrist residuals status post navicular fracture was increased to 10 percent, but he disagrees with the assigned rating. The case is remanded as the Veteran has not been afforded a VA examination for his right wrist condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The right wrist fracture, DM with ED, and right CTS are not rated higher than the current levels.,Service connection for sinusitis and sleep disorder is also denied.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection of carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the Veteran did not have intent to file a claim for this condition prior to February 4, 2013.