Wrist & hand decisions — 2020

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent prior to December 18, 2019 and at 40 percent thereafter. The Veteran's left and right wrist disabilities are each rated at 10 percent.,The Board has remanded the issues of initial ratings for the Veteran's bilateral wrist osteoporosis.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left wrist disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in the current 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is rated at 10 percent, which adequately reflects his symptoms and functional limitations.,A separate noncompensable rating for a right wrist scar has been assigned since June 26, 2019.

Your claims for service connection have been remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The outcome of these claims may affect your SMC claim, so both are being reviewed together.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not been shown to preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. Therefore, the claim for a TDIU is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral leg disability, low back disability, and hypertension. The claim for tinnitus was granted.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to June 14, 2017 is remanded due to incomplete employment history and lack of information on his training and skills. The Veteran needs to provide a VA Form 21-4192 and additional information from previous employers.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Left Wrist Disorder due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical records, particularly from a private sleep study conducted in November 2011, and obtain an opinion regarding the etiology of his left wrist disorder.

The Veteran's service connection for left hip condition and TDIU from November 20, 2006 have been granted. The right wrist condition remains remanded due to the lack of recent examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues, including a missed VA examination for the right wrist fracture. The Veteran's address must be confirmed and he should be rescheduled for the required examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are remanded due to the need for updated examinations and consideration of all his symptoms. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with his current increased rating claims.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. A VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and rating for various conditions, including chest pain, sleep apnea, bilateral knee disorder, upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, right shoulder disorder, acne, facial scars, flatfoot, hypertension, memory loss, bipolar disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including panic disorder with agoraphobia and depressive disorder), and migraines. The remand requires obtaining relevant VA treatment records, conducting additional examinations to determine the etiology of diagnosed conditions, and scheduling a new examination for migraines.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted a 40 percent rating as of August 22, 2017. The remaining issues are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted an effective date of June 6, 2017 for the award of a 10 percent rating for right wrist strain. The increase in disability was factually ascertainable as of that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar neuropathy across the elbow, lower extremity sensory neuropathy, and hand disability (claimed as Dupuytren’s contracture) due to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The AOJ is instructed to obtain private treatment records from Dr. Christopher Iacobelli and request an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of these disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment as of February 29, 2020. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether his service-connected disabilities alone are of sufficient severity to produce unemployability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding the Veteran's arthritic disorder of the left hand and wrist, including conflicting x-ray findings. The examiner is asked to reconcile these findings and determine if any diagnosed disability at least as likely as not had its initial onset during active service or is otherwise related to the Veteran’s active service.

The Veteran's tinnitus, right shoulder disorder, bilateral knee disorder, right thumb disorder, bilateral elbow disorder, and right wrist disorder are all granted service connection.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's right shoulder disorder, bilateral knee disorder, right thumb disorder, bilateral elbow disorder, and right wrist disorder. The evidence supports a finding that these conditions began during or are otherwise related to his military service.