Wrist & hand decisions — 2020

The Veteran's right wrist median nerve compression, right hand pain, numbing of fingertips, and CTS are not service-connected.,There is no evidence of a kidney disorder or abdominal pain related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for osteopenia of the right shoulder, left wrist disability (including osteopenia and strain), osteoarthritis of the right knee, and a back disability. The evidence supports these determinations as there are medical opinions linking each condition to an in-service injury or incident.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to additional development being required.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and a compensable rating for his left wrist fracture, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of multiple body parts, including wrists, hips, elbows, ankles, and shoulders, as secondary to his service-connected psoriasis. The decision is based on a lack of competent diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for various joint disorders, including those allegedly due to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not support a finding of actual or presumptive exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for further evidentiary development, including an addendum to a previous VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right shoulder disability is aggravated by his service-connected right wrist/CTS.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability, costochondritis, and diabetes mellitus type II as secondary to Service-Connected Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS).,Service connection was granted for right wrist and left wrist disabilities (CTS) as secondary to SPS.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are granted service connection. The issue of carpal tunnel, left wrist is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for post traumatic arthritis, right wrist was denied as the current rating of 10% is considered the maximum allowed under applicable criteria.,Service connection for PTSD was granted based on credible supporting evidence that the in-service personal assault occurred.

The Board found that the Veteran did not file a timely substantive appeal for his claims, and thus the August 2016 rating decision is final.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion from a May 2020 VA examiner regarding prior diagnoses of carpal tunnel syndrome and its relation to service.

The Board has determined that the claims for increased evaluations of postoperative residuals, fracture, left navicular wrist; low back pain with degenerative arthritis; and degenerative arthritis of the thoracic spine need to be remanded due to deficiencies in the examination reports. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is intertwined with the other issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions and missing records. The Veteran is being asked to provide additional evidence or an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding her eye disorder, joint pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, gynecological disorder, cold injuries of upper extremities, and lower extremities.

Service connection is granted for carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and migraine headaches.,The Veteran's CTS, fibromyalgia, and migraines are all found to have onset during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and effective date are remanded, while other issues have been dismissed or denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to comply with previous remands and obtain a new medical opinion assessing additional functional impairment during flare-ups.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected post scaphoid nonunion fracture of the left wrist is being remanded due to an incomplete VA examination. The Veteran will need to be rescheduled for a new VA examination to assess the severity and functional impact of his condition.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for right wrist ligament tear and hypertension were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher disability evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and right wrist conditions, finding that his preexisting conditions were not aggravated by service.