Wrist & hand decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for chronic myositis of the cervical and lumbar spine muscles, as well as degenerative joint disease of multiple joints including shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, ankles, and feet. These conditions are considered to be directly related to the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected conditions, including increased ratings for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, TBI, and peripheral neuropathy. The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed due to the possibility of worsening symptoms since the last VA examination.

The Veteran's request to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disability is granted.,The Veteran's requests to reopen the claims of service connection for residuals of a bilateral super rectus fader operation, schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety are granted.,Service connection for bipolar disorder is granted.,An earlier effective date of December 5, 2005, but not earlier, for the award of service connection for a left ankle sprain is granted.,An earlier effective date of December 5, 2005, but not earlier, for the award of service connection for a right ankle sprain is granted.,An earlier effective date of February 22, 2012, but not earlier, for the award of an increased rating to 10 percent for status post left wrist trauma with arthroscopy with triangular fibrocartilage complex is granted.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the award of an increased rating of 10 percent for the right wrist sprain is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the grant of service connection for hypertension is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the grant of service connection for status post left foot trauma is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the grant of service connection for status post left knee ACL repair and medial meniscectomy with residual degenerative arthritis is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the grant of service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the grant of service connection for chronic cervical strain is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for vertigo, bilateral tinnitus, right shoulder labrum tear, left wrist ganglion cyst, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and tension headaches have been denied.,Service connection has been granted for these conditions, but the Veteran is not entitled to an increased rating or a higher initial disability evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating increases due to incomplete records, conflicting medical opinions, and lack of proper range of motion testing.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for acquired psychiatric disorders (including PTSD), right wrist disorder, heart disorder, left knee disorder, and left ankle disorder. The TDIU claim is also in remand status.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The left wrist disability and hemorrhoids are denied service connection, but the rating for hemorrhoids remains at noncompensable. Right testicular spermatoceles have been remanded due to secondary service connection issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left wrist neurological disorder, finding that there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or nexus to either service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's TDIU claim on an extraschedular basis is denied as his disability picture does not present an exceptional situation that makes the available schedular evaluation inadequate, and there is no evidence indicating he cannot obtain employment in a field that does not lend itself to carrying items.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted. Service connection for right ear hearing loss is also granted, but the Veteran does not have a current left ear hearing loss disability recognized as a VA disability. The initial ratings for left third digit crush injury with residual flexion loss (left third finger disability), gastroesophageal reflux disease and hiatal hernia (GERD), and carpal tunnel syndrome of both upper extremities are granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to a need for updated medical records and examinations.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal by the appellant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete records and failed attempts at contact. The issues of service connection are being remanded as they involve secondary service connection.

Service connection is granted for carpal tunnel syndrome and a left shoulder disorder. The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder rotator cuff condition does not appear to be the cause of his left shoulder disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, right wrist disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The Veteran's current tinnitus is found to be related to his military noise exposure during active service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right hand/wrist condition is being remanded due to the lack of a recent VA examination and reported worsening symptoms.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeals on multiple service connection and rating issues, including those related to lumbar spine disorder, bilateral pes planus, right hand CTS, left hand CTS, PTSD, cervical spine disorder, trouble breathing, sleep apnea, bilateral pulmonary embolisms, and insomnia disorder. The Board dismissed the appeal due to withdrawal.

The Veteran's right hand carpal tunnel syndrome is rated at 50 percent, effective January 8, 2019.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy of the lower extremities are not rated higher than 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been denied. The Board found no current disabilities for the claimed conditions, or that any were incurred in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and anxiety, were denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim.