Wrist & hand decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for the Veteran's right wrist, cervical spine, lumbar spine, left shoulder, and right shoulder disabilities are inadequate. Additionally, a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the service connection of depression. The claims for service connection for these conditions are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left arm condition. The claim will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The issues include right wrist arthritis, left wrist arthritis, sleep apnea, skin cancer, and pulmonary hypertension.

Service connection for right forearm, left forearm, right wrist, and left wrist disorders is denied.,Service connection for right knee and left knee disorders is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right wrist, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his in-service right wrist fracture.

The Veteran's right wrist scar is being remanded for further examination to determine the extent of any functional disability and whether there are any disabling effects not considered in a skin or scar rating.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for vertigo and carpal tunnel syndrome due to insufficient medical evidence, requiring further examination.

The appeal of the service connection claim for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is dismissed. An increased rating of 20 percent is granted for left clavicle disability, with a separate zero percent rating for scar residual. The claims for thoracic outlet syndrome and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has found that an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a right wrist disability is not warranted. The Veteran's claim to reopen the previously denied claim was received by VA on December 23, 2010, and so this decision does not address his claim for left ulnar neuropathy.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a right shoulder disability, as it is unclear if his current condition is related to service or caused by his service-connected right wrist disability. The Veteran will need to undergo further examination and evaluation.

The Veteran's right wrist condition has been rated at 10 percent, and the AOJ granted a temporary 100 percent disability rating for his surgery. The case is being remanded to obtain updated treatment records and an addendum opinion regarding the current severity of his right wrist condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence received after May 2016. The claims will be reviewed again and a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) must be issued.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left wrist condition and a skin condition, including residuals from shingles. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, right wrist arthritis, and right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment since June 4, 2009. The Board grants a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board dismissed the appeals because the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal, and thus has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to uncertainty regarding her left wrist and right shoulder disabilities, as well as potential additional injuries from VA treatment.

The Veteran's service connection claim for weak and deformed thumbs and wrist, arthritis is denied as there is no evidence linking the current condition to his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the bilateral upper extremities and remanded the claim for a low back condition. The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndromes are not shown to be related to service, while his degenerative disc disease is less likely as not related to service.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted a 40% rating effective February 7, 2019.,The Veteran's right knee disability remains at a 10% rating.,The Veteran's right wrist disability remains at a 0% (non-compensable) rating.