Wrist & hand decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that further action is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine and left wrist disabilities, including obtaining additional medical evidence and conducting new examinations. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes. The left shoulder, right wrist, lumbar spine, and right hand disabilities are remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The gastrointestinal disability is also remanded as it may be related to medication prescribed for other service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient efforts by the AOJ in obtaining the Veteran's service records. Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but the issues related to psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis remain pending as they were not discussed or addressed in the July 2013 VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to new evidence received after the August 2019 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including bronchitis, sleep apnea, and COPD, as well as bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left hand, right hand, and left wrist disabilities secondary to the service-connected right wrist disability. The Veteran's right wrist disability is currently rated as 10% disabling from January 3, 2013 to February 13, 2013 due to a temporary total rating based on convalescence following surgery. For the period prior to and after this date, the Veteran’s right wrist disability is not entitled to an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the VA examination did not provide sufficient information to determine whether the Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is related to service or herbicide exposure. The case is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of various wrist, elbow, and knee disorders has been dismissed. The claims for psychiatric disorder, right wrist disorder, left knee disorder, right elbow disorder, left elbow disorder, and right-hand disorder are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to new evidence that needs to be reviewed and considered by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of compliance with prior remand instructions regarding an addendum opinion on whether the Veteran's right wrist osteoarthritis is related to his service-connected chip fracture.

The Veteran's service-connected radiculopathy of the right and left sciatic nerves, as well as her right (major) carpal tunnel syndrome, have been granted initial evaluations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of clear and unmistakable error in a February 1979 rating decision that granted service connection for residuals, fracture, right wrist. The Board found no evidence to suggest that applying the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 4.40 or § 4.59 would have changed the outcome.

The Veteran's claims for right wrist tendinitis, left wrist tendinitis, and right knee iliotibial band syndrome were granted with an effective date of February 22, 2018.

The Veteran's appeal seeking increased ratings for various conditions has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, a bilateral foot condition, and a lower back condition due to potential incomplete medical opinions.,Specifically, the Board found that the July 2020 VA examiner’s opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was inadequate as it did not consider the Veteran's lay statements. The September 2020 VA examiner's opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his bilateral foot condition was also deemed inadequate due to an inaccurate factual premise.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right forearm and ankle disabilities have been denied. The current evaluations are found to be appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for service-connected left wrist scar is denied, and the issue of service connection for left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The rating for residuals of a left radius fracture was denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for left wrist DJD was also denied, with no higher rating supported by the medical evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for right ankle condition, left arm condition, urethritis, and left wrist condition as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a right wrist sprain, GERD, and mood disorder. The Veteran's right wrist sprain is related to his service, as are his GERD and mood disorder.