Wrist & hand decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for joint paint disorder, hypertension, and skin disorder due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations. The VA is required to obtain addendum opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, effective December 15, 2011. The right knee disability has been granted service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right wrist disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to service or any presumptive conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right wrist and bilateral shin splints as well as her SMC claim due to non-compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to address range of motion testing, flare-ups, and functional loss.

The Board has determined that the AOJ did not properly consider new evidence submitted after a final rating decision, and thus remands the case for reconsideration of service connection claims.

The Board has granted service connection for right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome as due to service-connected right wrist tendinitis and denied service connection for a cardiac disability, to include heart disease. Service connection was also denied for left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's IBS was denied an initial rating higher than 10 percent for the period prior to October 25, 2019, and a higher than 30 percent rating from that date forward.,The Veteran's right CTS was denied an initial compensable rating for the period prior to February 27, 2019, and a higher than 10 percent rating from that date forward.

The Veteran's bilateral essential tremors of the upper extremities are granted as service-connected, including due to exposure to herbicide agents. The right hand trigger finger and bilateral wrist condition issues remain pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for accrued benefits due to pending appeals and a potential one-year window for filing a Notice of Disagreement. The RO must adjudicate these claims on their merits.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's application to reopen claims of service connection for neck disability and bilateral neurological disability of the upper extremities was granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, left wrist, and left ankle disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to seek all potentially relevant medical records.

The Board denied service connection for a right wrist injury due to the lack of evidence of a current disability, as no functional impairment or objective findings were found.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his acquired psychiatric disorder, prostate cancer, left wrist disorder, and erectile dysfunction. The evidence did not show that any of these conditions warranted a higher rating.

The Board has dismissed all appeals as the Veteran withdrew them prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for neck disability due to new and material evidence. The claims for service connection for headache disability, neurological impairment of the upper extremities, and neurological impairment of the lower extremities are remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the reopening of the neck disability claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA opinion on whether the Veteran's hypertension is secondary to his service-connected PTSD and/or fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error, and he needs an examination to determine his eligibility for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant.

The Veteran's request for self-employment assistance through Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) was granted. The decision found that the Veteran has a serious employment handicap due to his service-connected disabilities, which necessitated selection of self-employment as the only reasonably feasible vocational goal.

The Board has granted service connection for the left dorsal olecranon enthesophyte of the elbow, finding that it began during active service. The other issues are remanded for further development.