Wrist & hand decisions — 2020

The Veteran's left thumb disability is rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5224, which considers ankylosis of the thumb. The evidence does not show unfavorable ankylosis.,The Veteran's left wrist tendon injury with weakness is rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Codes 5215 and 5024, based on limited motion.

Your claim for service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome has been granted, and the appeal is dismissed as there are no longer any pending issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient examination reports and duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and CTS, were of such severity that he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of April 1, 2015.

Your initial ratings for left and right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome have already been granted in a July 2019 rating decision, so your appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including post-endometrial ablation, blood clots, vasovagal syncope, dizziness, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral elbow disability, and low back disability. The reasons include incomplete medical records and a need to determine if any current psychiatric disorder is related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's appeals for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and an increased evaluation for L4 vertebral fracture have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left ankle disability and a compensable initial disability rating for a left wrist fracture, finding no current evidence of these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, bilateral cataracts, refractive error with presbyopia and blepharitis (sty, inflammation, vision loss), hypoglycemia, hypertension, bilateral hip disability, radiation colitis status post colon cancer surgery, sternum disability, post chemotherapy cognitive impairment, bilateral upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, high cholesterol, bilateral plantar fasciitis, temporomandibular joint disorders, skin cancer, bilateral wrist disability, chloracne, liver disability, broken nasal bone, a disability manifested by loss of balance, dizziness, and frequent falls, chronic unexplained disability manifested by muscle weakness, fatigue, heat exhaustion, cramps, and malnutrition or lack of nutrients, genitourinary disability (kidney disability), residuals of chicken pox, and measles virus.,The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for radiation colitis status post colon cancer surgery, stomach problems, constipation, diarrhea, incontinence, gas, and cramped bowel; and for genitourinary disability (kidney disability).

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a back disability, rheumatoid arthritis (claimed as fibromyalgia), bilateral leg disability (secondary to back disability), and right ankle disability (secondary to back disability) due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hand and/or wrist disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for a right wrist disability, left hip disability, lumbar spine disability, left ankle disability, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (diagnosed as depression).,There is no evidence of any current disabilities related to the Veteran's claimed conditions. The preponderance of the evidence does not support finding that these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to in-service injuries.

The Veteran's claim for VR&E services to pursue a bachelor's degree in nursing is remanded due to pre-decisional errors and the need for further evaluation by a VRC considering his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD, cervical spine disability, left foot disability, and other service-connected conditions are all rated at the highest possible level (70%), but his claims for low back disability, radiculopathy of the right leg, bilateral hearing loss, carpal tunnel syndromes, and elbow/thumb disabilities have been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for SMC based on aid and attendance, finding that he does not meet the criteria to receive this benefit due to his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran was granted SMC for his spouse.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board has dismissed it.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disability, right lower extremity chronic muscular strain, left lower extremity chronic muscular strain, right ankle synovitis, left ankle synovitis, right foot plantar fasciitis, and left foot plantar fasciitis have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for any of these conditions.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for IBS and a headache disability were also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cholesterolemia, chronic gastritis, and GERD have been denied. The Veteran's claims for service connection for tension headaches, right shoulder disorder, chronic left rib cage pain, chronic chest pain (including tendonitis/costochondritis), right wrist disorder (including carpal tunnel syndrome), left wrist disorder (including carpal tunnel syndrome), left knee disorder (secondary to service-connected disabilities), and left calf disorder (secondary to service-connected disabilities) have been granted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia has also been granted, but the Board has remanded it due to a lack of VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative joint disease of the right wrist, right shoulder, left elbow pain causing functional impairment, and right elbow have all been granted.,Service connection has been established for these conditions based on direct evidence linking them to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain substantially gainful employment during the periods of TDIU claims from July 29, 2013 to June 3, 2014, and from July 31, 2015 to October 18, 2016. From December 1, 2016 to March 1, 2017, the Veteran's combined disability rating was 90 percent, which rendered his TDIU claim moot due to the assignment of a 100 percent schedular rating.