Wrist & hand decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for left wrist status post-surgery, to include malalignment and left wrist osteoarthritis distal radius ulnar joint with ulnar minus 6 mm, was denied as the evidence did not show that VA treatment caused his additional disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches, to include as secondary to service-connected traumatic brain injury, was denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the current condition and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left arm and wrist disorder, finding no direct or secondary relationship to his military service.

The Veteran's ulcerative colitis has been granted a 60% rating. The right wrist disability claim is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left arm was granted, and a 10% rating is assigned.,Service connection for right knee disability has been remanded due to new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her low back disability, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, deviated septum with sinusitis, right wrist scar, and PTSD with depression was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a left wrist disorder and a fractured little finger were denied. His increased ratings for knee disabilities were also denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for carpal tunnel syndrome in the right and left wrist, as well as his request for an initial compensable disability rating for shingles, were denied. The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the shingles claim during a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's right wrist DJD is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted and remands the case for further development, including a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected right wrist disability.

A 50 percent rating is granted for the Veteran’s service-connected Major Depressive Disorder with Anxiety throughout, effective July 26, 2012. The Board also remanded several issues related to other conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected right wrist laceration radial digital neuropathy disability is remanded due to conflicting symptoms and the need for updated VA outpatient treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for osteoarthritis of the bilateral hands, bilateral knee disability, low back disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and carpal tunnel syndrome due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has denied claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and osteoarthritis of wrists, elbows, shoulders, and neck disabilities. The reasons include lack of credible evidence of current disability within the appeal period.

The Board denied service connection for a left hand or wrist disorder, including carpal tunnel syndrome, and right carpal tunnel syndrome. The Veteran did not have these conditions, and the VA examiner found that they were not caused by his service-connected burns.

The Veteran's appeal for initial compensable ratings and service connection for various hand, wrist, and ankle conditions has been remanded due to incomplete records of his periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA).

The Board denied service connection for a neck disorder, lumbar spine disorder, bilateral hip disorder, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.,Service connection was granted for tinnitus. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is secondary to his service-connected hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left wrist disability, finding no current diagnosis and insufficient evidence to support an in-service injury.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for right hand disability. The Veteran's right hand disabilities, including CTS, are secondary to his service-connected right shoulder disability. The claims for higher ratings for right shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities as well as issues regarding effective dates remain pending.

The Veteran's claim for a bilateral upper extremity disability, originally claimed as wrist pain, is being remanded due to the need to address his cervical spine disability and obtain any relevant VA treatment records. The issue of service connection for a cervical spine disability has also been referred to the AOJ.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, as they are reflected in the disability ratings assigned.

The Board has found that the VA examinations did not comply with remand directives and are therefore remanded for additional development, including new medical examinations to assess the Veteran's right wrist and hand conditions as well as her bilateral shin splints.