Wrist & hand decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating based on their combined rating of 80%. However, due to the lack of an examination considering her unemployability due to these conditions, the case is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right wrist disability, finding that it was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left wrist injury with ulnar nerve neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and for further evaluation of the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder, as well as TDIU.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's left wrist scar is related to his in-service injury.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected right wrist injury (residuals of a right navicular fracture) is denied as the current 10 percent rating adequately reflects the functional limitations and symptoms described.

The Veteran's appeals for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus have been withdrawn.,The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection, including back condition, right knee condition, left ankle injury, right wrist condition, bilateral hearing loss, sleep disorder (to include insomnia), and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings were dismissed due to her withdrawal of the claims.,A rating in excess of 30 percent for headaches was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right hand conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist and hand traumatic arthritis, to include as secondary to diabetes, and left wrist degenerative arthritis, to include as secondary to diabetes. The claim for a separate compensable rating for diabetic nephropathy was also denied.

Service connection for a right shoulder disability is granted. A disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right wrist osteoarthritis is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, back, right hip, left arm (claimed as progressive muscular atrophy), and right arm disabilities. Service connection was granted for migraine headaches.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain a VA examination and medical opinion for the Veteran's service connection claims related to frostbite, poor circulation, carpal tunnel syndrome, and PTSD.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of a definitive opinion and potential missing records. The Veteran is also required to provide authorization for VA to obtain relevant records from his incarceration.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right wrist disorder, OSA, HTN, and lumbar disc disease has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claims are granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding his claimed disabilities and exposure during military service. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to address these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the remaining claims due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities and to obtain updated VA examinations.,The Veteran has multiple issues related to his service-connected disabilities, including increased ratings for various knee disorders, shoulder strain, wrist strain, thoracic spine compression fracture, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, bilateral plantar fasciitis with first metatarsophalangeal joint degenerative arthritis, pansinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and tension headaches. Additionally, he seeks service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and right flank condition with numbness.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been assigned a 10 percent disability rating, which is the maximum schedular rating authorized under the applicable rating criteria. The Board finds no other applicable diagnostic code on which a higher schedular disability rating could be assigned for his service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a depressive disorder has been reopened and granted. The right foot metatarsalgia with pes planus and degenerative joint disease is rated at 20 percent.,Right hip replacement, left wrist cyst secondary to service-connected disabilities, lumbosacral strain, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy with sciatic nerve involvement of the left lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy with external cutaneous nerve involvement of the left lower extremity are all remanded for further review.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his right shoulder, left wrist tendinitis, back, and neck disabilities have been denied. The VA found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on functional loss or additional limitations due to pain.