Wrist & hand decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's right hand and wrist condition, as the previous examination was inadequate.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and earlier effective dates for service connection are denied. The Veteran's DJD, right wrist is remanded for a VA examination to determine the current level of disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for residuals of fractured right hand and wrist, to include osteoarthritis. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of low back, right wrist, and right ankle disabilities. The claim for increased rating for irritable bowel syndrome was dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities and carpal tunnel syndrome of the bilateral wrists, finding that there was no evidence showing current disability due to active service or any incident of service.

The Board denied service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands, left and right shoulder disorders (including arthritis), and a left elbow disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service.,Service records do not show any complaints or diagnoses related to the claimed conditions. The Veteran's VA and private treatment records indicate current diagnoses but no connection to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for tinnitus, right wrist condition, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, and obstructive sleep apnea due to incomplete service treatment records and lack of verification of periods of active duty.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for further evaluation of the Veteran's right wrist disability, including range of motion testing and assessment of functional effects.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the criteria to establish a qualifying hearing loss disability have not been met.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted as her condition is causally related to service.

The appeal for service connection of a right wrist condition is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral epicondylitis and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Bilateral epicondylitis is found to have started during active service, while bilateral CTS was noted in service with continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is rated at 30 percent, reflecting favorable ankylosis in the range of 20 to 30 degrees of dorsiflexion.,The Veteran's lower back disability is rated at 40 percent, indicating limitation of motion with flexion not exceeding 45 degrees.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to properly adjudicate the issues on appeal, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision found that new evidence was not presented to warrant readjudicating the claim for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. For bilateral hearing loss, the Board concluded there is no current diagnosis of hearing loss sufficient for VA purposes at any time during the pendency of the claim or recent to the filing of the claim. Service connection for tinnitus was granted based on the Veteran's credible statements and service treatment records indicating onset in service.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's osteoarthrosis of the right wrist is related to his in-service fracture, and for consideration of aggravation by a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left wrist disability, other than her service-connected residuals of a ganglion cyst. The claims for bilateral foot disability and menstrual disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is not related to her active service and did not manifest during or within one year of active service.,The criteria for entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected left wrist tendonitis have not been met.,The criteria for entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for right wrist tendonitis have not been met.,The criteria for entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine have not been met.

The Board has granted service connection for right wrist strain and instability, left hip strain and instability. The issues of increased ratings for TBI and bilateral tinea pedis, as well as the issue of TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for fibromyalgia, right wrist disability, left hip disability, right face condition (trigeminal neuralgia), and right testicle condition due to procedural errors in previous rating decisions. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are being reviewed again to determine if they are related to his claimed conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for left elbow, wrist, and hand disorders due to the lack of a current diagnosis.,Service connection was also denied for left knee disorder as there is no evidence linking it to service.