Wrist & hand decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left wrist disorder, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for left lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, right lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and left carpal tunnel syndrome. The case is remanded for further development.,Service connection was also denied for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The case is also remanded for further development.

The Board has ordered additional VA examinations for the Veteran's claims of left wrist, right shoulder disability, right arm pain, left arm pain, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (low back disability), left knee arthritis, and right knee arthritis. These matters are being remanded due to the need for compliance with previous orders.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal, and the Board dismissed it due to lack of active issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's neurological disorders, specifically carpal tunnel/cubital tunnel issues and peripheral neuropathy in both upper and lower extremities. The examiner is requested to provide clear opinions on whether these conditions are related to service or diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran requested to withdraw all issues on appeal, and the Board has dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for right wrist disability, left wrist disability, and sleep disorder (including sleep apnea).

The Veteran's hypertension is granted an initial disability rating of 10 percent, but no higher. The right wrist scar issue is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a left wrist disability, skin disability, and substance abuse due to aggravation by service-connected PTSD. The Veteran will need new VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left wrist disorder, low back disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) as there is no credible evidence of current disabilities or functional impairment related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the right and left hands has been rated at 10 percent prior to October 2, 2015. Effective from October 2, 2015, a 30 percent rating is granted for the right hand and a 20 percent rating is granted for the left hand.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right elbow disability must be remanded for another VA medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic left and right wrist sprain, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise on whether these conditions are related to the appellant's duties as a Morse code operator during her active military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating. The ratings for carpal tunnel syndrome of both upper extremities and diabetes mellitus are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a right wrist disability and bilateral knee disability due to conflicting medical evidence regarding the existence of current disabilities and their etiology.

The Board has remanded both claims for a rating in excess of 30 percent for carpal tunnel syndrome and SMC based on loss of use of the right hand due to new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The appeal to accept the October 2015 notice of disagreement as timely is granted.,New and material evidence has been added to reopen claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right-sided numbness with temporary memory loss, pneumonia, post nasal fracture, and left wrist disability.

The Veteran's service connection for headaches is granted, while his claim for ganglion cyst of the right wrist remains denied. The other issues related to increased ratings are also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings for various disabilities, including wrist disorders and arthritis, are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran should be scheduled for examinations to assess the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board has remanded several issues, including those related to the neck disorder and right hip degenerative joint disease.,No new or relevant evidence was received to reopen the claim of service connection for a neck disorder.

The Board has remanded the cases for an adequate VA examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is related to his active service.