Wrist & hand decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected right wrist disability contributed to his death from pneumonia, acute renal failure and pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The benefit of doubt is applied in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's right wrist disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, and bilateral plantar fasciitis are not service-connected. The left wrist tenosynovitis is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral elbow disabilities, bilateral knee disabilities, bilateral wrist disabilities, and TDIU have been dismissed. The appeal for service connection for a back condition has been remanded.

The Veteran's prostatitis rating was improperly reduced, and the right wrist disability is not rated higher. The diabetes mellitus rating remains unchanged, but a TDIU is granted as of June 26, 2012. All other issues are remanded for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for left elbow disability and right wrist disability, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these disabilities began during active service. The issues of service connection for respiratory disability, dental disability for compensation purposes, and bilateral eye disability other than retinal hole are also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 27, 2013. The Board has granted the TDIU effective from that date.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but denied claims for left wrist condition, right wrist condition, left shoulder condition, and right shoulder condition. The claim for a left knee condition is also denied. Service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae was not addressed in the decision.

The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. Service connection for bilateral wrist disability, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral hand disability, and right foot disability are denied.

The Board dismissed all claims due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disorders, including right knee disorder, back disorder, cervical spine disorder, and carpal tunnel syndrome, all of which are claimed as secondary to his service-connected fibromyalgia. The VA is directed to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these issues.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for blurred vision, bilateral hearing loss, dizziness, inhalation injury, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, sleep apnea, GERD, status post excision benign skin mass on the right wrist with residual scar, headache disability, left cubital and carpal tunnel syndrome, right cubital and carpal tunnel syndrome, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and PTSD have all been dismissed due to withdrawal of appeals by the Veteran.,The Veteran's appeals for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left foot disability, and right foot disability are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bone atrophy is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or relationship to service.,The Veteran's claims for right wrist sprain, PTSD, sleep apnea, and sleeping disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right wrist disability is denied as there is no evidence of ankylosis, and the current 10 percent rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's ankle and knee disorders are related to service, but more information is needed regarding the onset of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for right hand and wrist disabilities, finding no direct relationship to service. Service connection was granted for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and thoracolumbar spine disorder due to insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran's left shoulder and hip disorders are also being remanded, but with specific secondary service connection issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations. The issues include PTSD, bilateral pes planus, sleep apnea, acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, TBI, seizure disability secondary to TBI, vertigo secondary to TBI, Dercum’s disease, wrist carpal tunnel syndromes, hypermobility syndrome, testicular/inguinal hernia, respiratory disability, mast cell disorder, hemolytic anemia, and TMJ.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded substantially gainful employment since January 1, 2014. The Board found that the Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his right wrist disability, chloracne, and psychiatric condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right wrist, left hip, and left abdomen (claimed as groin injury) conditions due to a recent Federal Circuit decision that pain alone can qualify as a disability. The case is now remanded for further examination to assess functional impairment.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for lymph node disability and left wrist disability. The dermatitis/eczema claim is also remanded.