Wrist & hand decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have made it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since February 18, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his service-connected right ankle, low back, and right little finger disabilities. The Veteran also needs a new examination to assess the severity of his right little finger disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic lumbar spine, right and left knee disabilities, and bilateral wrist carpal tunnel syndrome have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during or prior to the appeal period.,Service connection has also been granted for tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain VA treatment records from Tampa VAMC and for another addendum medical nexus opinion regarding the Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for gastritis was dismissed.,A 70 percent rating is granted for generalized anxiety disorder with unspecified depressive disorder effective February 20, 2016.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee, right wrist, left wrist, and acquired psychiatric disorders due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The claim for increased rating of thoracolumbar spine spondylosis with degenerative disc disease, status post fracture is denied. The claim for service connection of left hand pain with carpal tunnel syndrome is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability evaluation for residual right arm and wrist pain was denied. The current rating of 10 percent is based on the limitation of motion, but not meeting criteria for higher ratings due to ankylosis or other specific conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating under applicable criteria.,The Veteran’s left wrist disability is currently rated at 10 percent and no higher as per the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of his right and left carpal tunnel syndromes were denied. The appeal for TDIU was also denied.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of numbness in left hand and fingers, numbness in right hand and fingers, left wrist strain (claimed as left wrist arthritis), right wrist strain, and right knee condition to include as secondary to right ankle because the appeal was not properly filed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable initial disability rating for her service-connected scar, right wrist and denied her claim of service connection for her right hip disability. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran requires regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea, adjustment disorder with mixed emotional features, left knee arthritis, right shoulder arthritis, lumbar spine strain, cervical spine strain, hiatal hernia, left elbow dislocation, hypertension, hemorrhoids, post laceration of the right thigh with residual scar, and right shoulder surgical scar associated with right shoulder arthritis. As a result, special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance is granted.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for the Veteran's left wrist disability prior to May 23, 2016 and denied any rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter. The primary issue was whether the Veteran's left wrist disability warranted an increased evaluation due to pain and functional loss.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the merits of multiple conditions has been dismissed due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation, thus his claim for TDIU was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left wrist disabilities are being remanded due to the AOJ not considering recent VA examinations in the first instance, and because a Statement of Claim (SOC) has not yet been issued regarding an earlier effective date for a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete examinations and the need for additional medical records. The issues of service connection are being reviewed, as well as initial disability ratings.

The Veteran withdrew all of his claims, including those related to service connection for various disabilities and initial ratings.

The claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, right knee condition (previously claimed as leg condition), hypertension, and right carpal tunnel syndrome were denied. The claim for service connection of the right ankle condition was remanded.