Wrist & hand decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right wrist arthritis, CTS, and ulnar nerve condition due to lack of chronicity in service or continuity of symptomatology, and because these conditions are not etiologically related to service-connected right fifth metacarpal fracture residuals.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disability, left ankle disability, left knee disability, left wrist disability, allergic rhinitis, and eustachian tube dysfunction.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a back disability, but denied all other claims.,PTSD was previously denied and is not being reconsidered.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his active duty service. The decision also addressed secondary service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome but found insufficient evidence to support this claim.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate examinations and evidence. The Veteran's claims of service connection for numbness of the right hand, including carpal tunnel syndrome, and sinusitis are pending.

The Veteran's application for a clothing allowance due to his service-connected right arm condition was denied because he did not file the application within one year of the anniversary date for which entitlement was established.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions as the evidence did not support a current disability or a link to service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claim during a videoconference hearing.,Service connection for a right wrist condition is denied because there is no credible evidence of an in-service injury or a current disability related to service-connected conditions. The Veteran’s assertions regarding a fall and a prior injury are not supported by medical records.,Service connection for a sinus condition is denied as the Veteran does not have any documented symptoms or diagnoses related to this condition during his active duty.,Service connection for teeth and jaw numbness is denied because there is no credible evidence of an in-service injury, and the Veteran’s current symptoms are not linked to service.

The Board has reopened the claim and found new and material evidence to support a reopening of the previously denied claim for service connection for the Veteran’s cause of death. However, it was determined that there is no causal relationship between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his suicide.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings due to outstanding VA and SSA records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for colon disability is denied as there is no evidence of current disability.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis C and right foot disability were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted.,Memory loss is considered a symptom of the service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety, so it does not warrant separate service connection.

The Board has ordered a VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected right wrist/hand scar with vitiligo. The Veteran is responsible for reporting for this examination.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including arthritis (claimed as gout), muscle and joint pains, left shoulder disability, left elbow disability, left wrist disability, lumbar spine disability, neck disability, left knee disability, bilateral foot disability, bilateral eye disability, dizziness, headache disability, and tinnitus. The Veteran's claim was remanded for further action on some issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected radial neuritis and scar of the left wrist are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral wrist carpal tunnel syndrome as the VA examination is inadequate and there are issues regarding functional impact.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various disabilities and whether new evidence supports reopening a claim. The case is returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claim for right wrist arthritis is denied, and the rating claim for left wrist arthritis is also denied. The Board found no evidence linking the right wrist condition to service-connected left wrist arthritis or any other in-service injury.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for asthma is granted. The claims for service connection for left and right shoulder, wrist, hip, ankle, and knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board denied ratings higher than 20 percent for cervical strain and right carpal tunnel syndrome on an extraschedular basis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were adequately addressed by the applicable diagnostic codes and did not show exceptional or unusual disability picture with related factors such as marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been denied as the evidence does not show an increase in disability prior to May 19, 2017.,VA has determined that the Veteran is not entitled to DEA benefits due to his service-connected disabilities because he did not meet the eligibility criteria at any time before May 19, 2017.