Wrist & hand decisions — 2020

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis were granted a higher rating of 50% since March 20, 2019. The right wrist scar was granted a non-compensable rating but with an effective date of March 20, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis and posttraumatic arthritis of the right ankle, as well as rheumatoid arthritis of the bilateral knees and shoulders. Service connection was denied for osteoarthritis of the left ankle and wrists.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left wrist disability as secondary to his service-connected right elbow and right wrist disabilities, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support this claim.

The Veteran's left wrist disability, prior to April 25, 2017, is rated at 40 percent. The case is REMANDED for further development and consideration of an extraschedular rating and TDIU.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of jurisdiction, as she did not file a Notice of Disagreement within one year of the RO decision.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his right wrist and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to July 16, 2019.,His service-connected right wrist disability has been rated at 10 percent since June 1, 2013. The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding whether he should be granted a higher rating.

Service connection for DMII and related peripheral neuropathies due to herbicide exposure is granted. The Veteran's claims were reopened based on new evidence, and service connection was established for diabetes mellitus type II and its associated peripheral neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions caused his obesity, which in turn contributed to his death. The VA needs to obtain a medical opinion on these issues.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD is being remanded as the evidence does not show an increase in disability prior to November 17, 2017.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right CTS are also being remanded due to lack of relevant VA treatment records and need for further examination.,A compensable rating is also being remanded as the Veteran has not provided a specific claim for this issue.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his avascular necrosis of the right wrist, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist is related to an in-service injury, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has denied service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left and right wrists, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board has found insufficient evidence to adjudicate the claim of service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, left hand and has ordered a VA examination to determine if there is any relationship between the Veteran's current symptoms and his military service.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations did not substantially comply with previous remand directives and thus, the claims are being remanded for further action.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for left wrist radiocarpal joint disease, right wrist radiocarpal joint disease, and right wrist tendonitis. The claims are remanded to obtain a new VA examination to assess the etiology of these conditions and whether they are related to service or any other condition. The Veteran's claim of service connection for patellofemoral pain syndrome of both knees is also remanded due to the possibility of secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to conflicting opinions and insufficient evidence. The Veteran's psychiatric, sleep, cardiovascular, CTS, and hearing loss conditions are being reviewed again.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral trigger fingers, bilateral hand arthritis, and bilateral wrist arthritis, finding that there is no evidence of their onset during service or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's left wrist disability of residual post-operative fracture with traumatic arthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted as there is no evidence of ankylosis or involvement of two major joints.

The Veteran's right wrist neurological disability was rated at 20 percent prior to December 17, 2019 and at 30 percent as of that date. The Board found the criteria for higher ratings were not met.