Wrist & hand decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for wrist, foot, and ankle disabilities secondary to bilateral knee disabilities due to insufficient opinions regarding causation or aggravation.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus was denied in the August 2004 rating decision. The RO found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent.,Service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome/osteoarthritis of the left hand and right hand was also denied in the August 2004 rating decision, as the VA examiner opined these conditions were not related to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and bilateral wrist disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active service.,For lumbar spine disorder, the Veteran's symptoms were rated as less than severe, with no ankylosis or significant neurological impairment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for nerve damage of the right wrist and for a TDIU, finding that his disability did not warrant a higher rating based on the schedular criteria or meet the requirements for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, but the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to insufficient medical opinions and further development is needed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial ratings for his right wrist condition and right pinky finger numbness are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome in both upper extremities and bilateral knee disorders, finding no current diagnoses or causal links to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and a lower back disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. The decision is based on medical opinions provided by private physicians who have linked the Veteran's disabilities to his in-service injuries.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the appeal for an increased rating is denied. The Board has also remanded cases involving service connection for left wrist condition, right foot condition, carpal tunnel syndrome, sinusitis, sleep apnea, and hypertension.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that it does not warrant a compensable rating.,Service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome has been granted. The examiner opined that the condition was less likely than not due to service or secondary to his service-connected right and left elbow conditions.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the prior remand directives and has therefore ordered another remand for additional development, including a VA examination to address the Veteran's claims of compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability is granted as service-connected. The Veteran's gout, left shoulder disability, right knee disability, left wrist disability, and athlete’s foot are denied.,A new VA examination is required to determine the nature and etiology of any currently present right wrist, left knee, and low back disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining an opinion on the etiology of his right wrist pain and addressing the effective date issues.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his traumatic neuropathy, radial nerve, right wrist disability was denied by the Board. The condition is currently rated at 50 percent and no higher.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim of residuals of tonsillitis, as there is no indication that the Veteran currently has any residual symptoms from his service-connected tonsillitis.,Service connection for tinnitus was also denied due to a lack of current evidence linking the condition to service or a service-connected disability. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen this claim.

The Veteran's right wrist brace, which is not custom-made and consistent with types of appliances found by VA to not cause wear and tear on clothing, was not awarded a clothing allowance for 2015 because the evidence did not show that it caused wear and tear to his clothing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, but his claim for a higher rating of the left wrist disorder was granted with a 20% disability rating. The decision is mixed as some issues are granted and others are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to a lack of VA examinations. The issues include initial ratings for various service-connected disabilities, including radiculopathy and chronic lumbar strain.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for arthritis of both hips, both hands (to include thumbs and wrists), toes, bilateral shoulders, and lumbar spine, as well as gout.