Wrist & hand decisions — 2020

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions has been granted. The Board also remanded several issues related to the Veteran's disabilities, including cramps of the lower extremities, right shoulder disability, right wrist disability, memory loss due to a motor vehicle accident, cervical spine disability, joint pain, bronchitis, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including schizophrenia and depression).

The Veteran's request for increased ratings for various service-connected conditions was denied. The current disability ratings are 10% for right peroneal nerve palsy, 30% for right carpal tunnel syndrome from July 10, 2019 to present, and 20% for left carpal tunnel syndrome since June 12, 2011. The Veteran's service-connected conditions are rated based on their direct effects without any presumption or secondary linkage.

The Board dismissed the appeal as the question of whether the RO erred in not accepting a VA Form 21-526b filed on November 14, 2018 is moot because service connection for right and left hand disorders, to include carpal tunnel syndrome, was denied after reopening the issue.

The Board has found the evidence insufficient to determine if the Veteran's claimed conditions are related to his active duty service and is therefore remanding these issues for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, low back, and right hip disabilities. The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity was not granted as it is considered a separate issue.

The Board denied service connection for the right wrist condition and granted a 40% rating for the lumbar spine disability, effective December 2, 2016. The claim for an increased rating for the lumbar spine disability was not fully resolved.

The Veteran's hypertension, cholecystectomy residuals, and bilateral osteoarthritis of the wrists have not met the criteria for higher disability ratings.,Service connection for the Veteran's bilateral osteoarthritis of the wrists has been denied as there is no evidence that it began during service or is related to an in-service injury.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis and pharyngitis, as well as right knee and hand/wrist disabilities. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hand/wrist disability is not related to his time in service, including aggravation of a pre-existing injury. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected healed fractures of the left wrist and right thumb were remanded by the Board in November 2018. The case is being returned to the RO for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations.

The Board granted service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome, left varicocele, and dermatitis of the hands but denied service connection for a right heel disorder (heel spur) and a respiratory disorder (bronchitis, pneumonia, lung lesion).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent her from engaging in substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU effective as of the date of the decision.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity and a heart disorder, to include stable angina, need further development due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for a right wrist condition has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for left ankle and right wrist disabilities due to new evidence being added to the record.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations obtained are inadequate and requires additional opinions to address the Veteran's claims for service connection of various disabilities, including cervical spine, left knee, right knee, right wrist, and right shoulder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, and right hand carpal tunnel syndrome. The Veteran's PTSD and mood disorder were also not granted an initial rating in excess of 70 percent.

Service connection is granted for bilateral lateral epicondylitis and an undiagnosed skin disability manifested by intermittent rashes. Service connection is denied for left carpal tunnel syndrome, right cubital tunnel syndrome, and right and left knee disabilities.,The Veteran's bilateral lateral epicondylitis was diagnosed during service and the examiner found it to be at least as likely as not related to service. The Veteran's undiagnosed skin disability manifested by intermittent rashes is also considered to have been incurred in or caused by service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right wrist injury, finding that there was no evidence to support his contention that he sustained an in-service injury. The Board also noted that the Veteran had not been diagnosed with right wrist degenerative arthritis within one year of separation from active duty.

The Board denied service connection for a right arm disorder, the residuals of a left wrist disorder, and cervical spine disorders. The Veteran's right arm disorder is not considered to have begun during active service or be related to an in-service injury.,Service connection was also denied for hypertension as there is no evidence that it began during active service.