Wrist & hand decisions — 2020

The Board has already granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral arm hand and wrist pain, including tendonitis, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The appeal is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's claims for right hand osteoarthritis, left hand osteoarthritis, chronic ear infections, and both ankle conditions have been denied.,Right carpal tunnel syndrome and left carpal tunnel syndrome were granted service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of all pending claims.,The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal regarding a disability rating in excess of 10 percent prior to February 10, 2020, and in excess of 40 percent from February 10, 2020 for a low back disability.,The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal regarding a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the period prior to February 10, 2020 for GERD.,The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal regarding a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for the period from February 10, 2020 for IBS and GERD.,The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal regarding a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for retropatellar pain syndrome of the right knee.,The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal regarding a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for retropatellar pain syndrome of the left knee.,The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal regarding a compensable disability rating prior to February 10, 2020, and a rating in excess of 10 percent from February 10, 2020 for a left ankle disability.,The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal regarding a compensable disability rating prior to February 10, 2020, and a rating in excess of 10 percent from February 10, 2020 for a left wrist ganglion.,The Veteran's petition to reopen service connection for right shoulder disability based on new and material evidence has been dismissed.,The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and adjustment disorder.,The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal regarding service connection for a neck disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, his claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied as he does not meet the VA standards for a current disability.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder, elbow disorder, wrist disorder, hip disorder, knee disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder (other than right ankle sprain), shoulder disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been remanded due to insufficient evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and service.,The Veteran's claim for a cervical spine disorder has also been remanded as no VA examination addressing the direct or secondary theory of entitlement was conducted.,His claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for shin splints, left leg and right leg have been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding service connection for left wrist arthritis and SMC based on aid and attendance or housebound benefits. The issues are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his left wrist condition. The Board finds that an addendum opinion on the etiology of his carpal tunnel syndrome is necessary.

The Board has found the Veteran's hypertension service connection claim granted. The remaining issues of entitlement to service connection for left elbow disability, left carpal tunnel syndrome, sleep disorder, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus are remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his ankle disabilities, service connection for neck and back disabilities, and right wrist disability have been dismissed. The claim of service connection for residuals of head injuries (including TBI and lacunar infarct) and headaches has been reopened.

The Veteran's claim for VR&E services, including a doctoral degree in osteopathic medicine, is remanded due to the need for a new vocational rehabilitation evaluation considering his current symptomatology and employment capabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, left leg, and right wrist disabilities have been reopened. The Board has determined that new evidence received is sufficient to reopen the claims.

The Veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for his service-connected left wrist tendonitis, effective March 24, 2009. He was also granted a 10 percent rating for his right wrist tendonitis, effective January 18, 2019.,For the period prior to June 3, 2019, he received a 10 percent rating for his service-connected primary insomnia. From June 3, 2019 onwards, he received a 30 percent rating.,From March 8, 2013 to January 17, 2019, the Veteran was granted a 40 percent disability rating for his service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS). From January 18, 2019 onwards, he received a 20 percent disability rating.,The low back disability was rated at 20 percent from March 8, 2013 to January 17, 2019. After that date, the Veteran's claim for a higher rating was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including vertigo, right and left wrist disorders, sleep disorder, right shoulder disorder, lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, actinic keratosis, nasal polyps, squamous cell carcinoma, acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder, depression, anxiety disorder), eye disorder (vitreous syneresis, floaters, panniculi), right knee disorder, left knee disorder, hernia, pulmonary hypertension, and allergic rhinitis have been denied. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's legacy appeal regarding his right wrist disability as he opted into the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) review system.

The Veteran's initial ratings for ganglion cyst status post removal of the left wrist and degenerative arthritis of the right toe have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and low back disability due to inadequate opinions provided by VA examiners. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, with secondary service connection being considered.

The Veteran's initial claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected ganglion cyst of the left wrist was denied. The Board found that the examinations conducted were substantially compliant with prior remand directives and concluded that the disability warranted a 10 percent rating based on painful motion.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for old fracture with degenerative joint disease of the right wrist has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of a right wrist scaphoid fracture is denied as the maximum schedular rating has been reached and there is no evidence of ankylosis.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for synovitis of the left ankle is denied as the disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of compliance with previous directives and the need for additional examination.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for service-connected left wrist strain, ankylosis of the left elbow with degenerative joint disease, and impairment of the left forearm supination/pronation are being remanded due to incomplete development.