Wrist & hand decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist and a lumbar spine disability due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other two issues.

The Veteran's gout has been rated at 60 percent since the grant of service connection, effective prior to October 1, 2019. From October 1, 2019 onwards, a higher rating is not warranted. The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as he did not complete the necessary VA Form 21-8940 and there was insufficient evidence of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for joint pain, wrist pain, sleep disturbance, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to an undiagnosed illness. The appeal is pending additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection and a higher rating for a right wrist disability. The Veteran's representative argued that he should be granted service connection for DJD, but this was not addressed by the Board in its previous decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to restore a 10 percent disability rating for post-operative residuals, surgery, repair of ligaments right thumb and granted a 10 percent rating under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities that interfere with normal employability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines, right wrist disability, left wrist disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability has been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right rotator cuff disability have also been denied due to the lack of a diagnosed condition during the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates on various service connection claims have been withdrawn.,All issues of increased ratings and TDIU have also been withdrawn.

The Veteran's left elbow and left wrist disabilities are granted as service connected. The right elbow and right wrist disabilities are denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for systemic arthritis and left carpal tunnel syndrome was denied. The Board found no evidence of current diagnoses.,Service connection for low back disorder and sleep apnea is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the presence or etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting information regarding her period of active duty and reserve status. The veteran is required to provide additional evidence, including personnel records from Camp Lincoln, to verify her service during the specified time frame.

The Veteran's appeals for extra-schedular ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the assigned schedular criteria adequately described his disability picture, with no interference with employment or frequent hospitalization.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection for bilateral flat foot and evaluations for various disabilities. The Veteran's claims are being returned to the AOJ for additional examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected disabilities of the right ankle, right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, and hemorrhoids are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran is unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected right wrist disability, and the Board has granted a TDIU rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for postherpetic neuralgia involving the right ear and entitlement to a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran needs a new VA examination for his postherpetic neuralgia involving the right ear, and his claim for TDIU will be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various arm, shoulder, hand, and wrist disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are proximately caused or aggravated by her service-connected left knee disability. The Veteran is also being asked to provide a new examination to determine the current severity of her left knee disability.

The Veteran's right CTS disability was granted an initial rating of 30 percent from February 10, 2015 to October 18, 2019. A higher rating is denied at any time during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to incomplete records and need for clarification from VA examiners.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in the VA examinations conducted in June 2017, and new examinations are required to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left radius fracture, status post open reduction internal fixation, is currently rated at 10 percent and the appeal for a higher rating has been denied.,The Veteran's left wrist strain is currently rated at 10 percent and the appeal for a higher rating has been denied.