Wrist & hand decisions — 2020

The appeal for service connection for Bell’s palsy and a periodontal disability has been dismissed.,The appeals for service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis, chronic dizziness, migraine headaches, dyspareunia, cervicitis, a cervical cyst, post coital bleeding, dysmenorrhea, and right wrist metacarpal fracture residuals have been remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and he is granted a TDIU effective May 31, 2006. SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and therefore his TDIU claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right arm disabilities, specifically addressing his contentions of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and his active service, with the exception of bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome which is not related to service. The Veteran's COPD is attributed to smoking tobacco.

The Board has determined that the VA Regional Office (RO) did not fully comply with its May 2019 remand directives, and thus the claims for service connection are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for left shoulder, left wrist, left hand, right wrist, and left leg disorders.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to May 7, 2020 and since that date was denied. The Veteran also had his initial ratings for degenerative joint disease with malunion of the right fibula with old posttraumatic status post change of ankle with ossification of tibiofibula syndesmosis (right ankle) and avulsion fracture of the right ulnar styloid with bone chip were granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for left hand carpal tunnel syndrome due to incomplete examination and lack of rationale in the previous VA opinion.

The Veteran's bilateral wrist pain (claimed as carpal tunnel syndrome) is granted service connection. The appeal for right foot and bilateral hip/thigh conditions are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right shoulder disability and right wrist arthritis are related to his military service. The case will be sent back for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent from December 1, 2009, for carpal tunnel release, right, associated with impairment right elbow (major) is remanded due to the need for further development and examination.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, effective date for a left wrist disability, and ratings for hypertension and right foot ganglion cyst removal. The case is returned to the AOJ for review of additional VA treatment records submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of records and incomplete VA examinations. The Veteran's claims for various conditions are being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of nonunion right scaphoid fracture with internal fixation, post traumatic arthritis of the right wrist, and status post bone graft have been rated at 10 percent. The Board found that this rating is appropriate as there was no ankylosis in the wrist and the Veteran did not meet criteria for a higher evaluation due to loss of grip strength or arthritis.

The Board has granted service connection for right ulnar nerve entrapment and remanded the issues of left hand disorder, bilateral wrist radiculopathy, and left ulnar nerve entrapment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral wrist and hand disorders due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome and dismissed the claims for respiratory disorder and right-hand disorder as an undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness (MUCMI).

The Board has granted a 30 percent extraschedular rating for the Veteran's left wrist injury, status post dorsal capsulodesis, effective from December 5, 2005. The disability is characterized by frequent subluxation and dislocation of the wrist.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, OSA, a neck disorder, left CTS, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to secondary service-connected disabilities. The claims are also remanded for additional development.