Wrist & hand decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of all claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disorder, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and low back disorder are being remanded due to incomplete development. The VA is required to obtain addendum opinions from the November 2019 examiner regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for right hip disabilities and service connection for right elbow ulnar nerve neuropathy have been dismissed. The appeal to reopen his claim of service connection for right elbow ulnar nerve neuropathy, claimed as secondary to a service-connected left wrist fracture with retrograde ulnar nerve neuritis, has been granted. His initial rating for major depressive disorder is set at 70 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left shoulder rotator cuff tear and other orthopedic conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since November 14, 2019.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives and issues related to service connection for a left wrist disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right wrist disability and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for new evaluations.

The Veteran is granted a 30 percent disability rating for cervical spine spondylosis prior to March 8, 2018 and in excess of 30 percent thereafter. The Veteran's right wrist degenerative joint disease does not meet the criteria for an increased rating.,A 30 percent disability rating is granted for PTSD from June 1, 2010 to September 10, 2014. A higher rating is denied.,The Veteran is granted a TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of all issues, including those related to service connection and evaluations for various conditions. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left wrist condition was denied as the current rating of 10% adequately reflects the severity and symptoms of his disability, including pain and limited motion without evidence of ankylosis or involvement of multiple joints.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a right foot disability, back disability, bilateral hand and wrist condition, right knee disability, and sleep disorder to obtain medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions. The Veteran is not granted service connection on the merits as her conditions are currently under review.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and bilateral hand and wrist strains, finding that there is no evidence to support a direct or secondary relationship between these conditions and his military service. The case was remanded for further development.

The Veteran's initial rating for left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome from December 6, 2010 to June 21, 2011 was granted at a 40 percent rating. The issue of an initial compensable rating for the partially torn right calf muscle is remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for basal cell carcinoma on the right shoulder is denied as there is no evidence linking it to his active duty.,The Veteran meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective April 28, 2015 due to multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for various joint disorders, including arthritis of the shoulders, hands, elbows, and knee, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or post-service treatment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale provided by the VA examiner regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected left hand crush injury and his current wrist conditions, including degenerative arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, status-post left wrist fusion, degenerative joint disease of the hand, and calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD).

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, bilateral pes planus, hallux valgus on the right foot, arthritis in both feet (right and left), and a right wrist disability including ganglion cyst.,Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is rated at 10% and denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 10% and denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 10% and denied a higher rating.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia, migraine headaches, chronic bilateral wrist sprain, and bilateral ankle sprain are all granted service connection as they are related to his active duty service.,Service connection is established for these conditions due to the presence of undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained multisymptom illnesses.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, vision loss as secondary to diabetes mellitus, headaches as secondary to diabetes mellitus, a back disability, neck disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, left wrist disability, right wrist disability, and right knee disability. The reasons given were that there was no evidence of onset during qualifying service or any related disease or injury in service.,The Board also denied service connection for these conditions based on secondary service connection to diabetes mellitus, which was previously denied.

The Veteran's right shoulder and cervical spine disabilities are not service-connected.,The Veteran's tingling in his right arm is not service-connected as it is related to a service-connected disability (cervical spine) or due to an undiagnosed illness.,The Veteran's cervical spine arthritis and spondylosis are not service-connected.