Wrist & hand decisions — 2020

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for the claims of service connection for various conditions, including adult onset scoliosis, myofascial pain syndrome, syncopal syndrome episode, right wrist carpal tunnel, a chronic shoulder condition, cervical spondylosis, an acquired psychiatric disability, and tibialis tendonitis (left ankle).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and carpal tunnel syndrome due to potential exposure to herbicide agents or ionizing radiation. The case will be further developed to determine if the Veteran served in a presumptive area, and to obtain dose estimates for any possible radiation exposure.

The Veteran's right wrist strain and left wrist residuals, status post ORIF surgery have not resulted in ankylosis of either wrist. The initial ratings for these conditions remain denied.,The Veteran's right hand residuals, status post right thumb ORIF surgery and left hand residuals, status post left radial ORIF surgery, have not resulted in a gap of one to two inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm.) between the thumb pad and the fingers with the thumb attempting to oppose the fingers. The initial ratings for these conditions remain denied.,The Veteran's essential bilateral hand tremors has resulted in moderate disability. An initial compensable rating is granted, but no higher rating is warranted based on current evidence.,No effective date claims are before the Board as they were previously remanded and not appealed.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claims for a bilateral wrist condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder are not granted. The case is being remanded to gather more information.

The Board has denied service connection for a left wrist condition and remanded the right knee condition due to insufficient evidence.

The case is being returned to the Board for additional development due to concerns about the adequacy of previous examinations. The Veteran requested a new examination by a different examiner.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher evaluation of his right wrist disability was denied. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for his left ankle disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional examinations to determine if the Veteran's service-connected scleroderma disability manifests with other disabilities and whether any non-service-connected disabilities are proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected condition. The claim will be readjudicated after these examinations.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for right and left carpal tunnel syndrome due to new evidence received since the May 2009 VA rating decision. The claims are now remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disorder, left ankle disorder, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and left carpal tunnel syndrome are remanded due to the need to obtain STRs.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including gunshot wounds, hearing loss, tinnitus, joint diseases, and disabilities of the elbows, shoulders, wrists, ankles, knees, lumbar spine, cervical spine, esophageal cancer, skin disorders, heart issues, respiratory problems, and memory loss. The decision was based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for headaches, as well as the original claims for foot pain and cramps, carpal tunnel syndrome. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board dismissed all appeals due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of his appeals prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and sleep apnea, rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment as of January 22, 2008. The effective date for the award of Total Disability Evaluation Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is set at January 22, 2008.

The Veteran's low back condition is granted service connection. The Board finds the evidence in equipoise regarding his right hip, left shoulder, left wrist, left knee, and left foot disabilities, granting them service connection as well.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on all remaining issues have been withdrawn, and the Board has dismissed these appeals.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and carpal tunnel syndrome are remanded due to outstanding VA medical records of treatment since 2011. The Veteran must provide these records, or the case will be remanded again if they cannot be obtained.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's left wrist disorder, but has remanded to determine if his neurological symptoms are related to his service-connected left wrist disability or aggravated by it.

The Board has found that further development is needed for the Veteran's service connection claims, including obtaining medical nexus opinions and seeking additional private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's right-hand numbness and its relationship to service, as well as the diagnosis of ganglion cyst and scapholunate dissociation. The Veteran is also seeking service connection for his right wrist disability with right-hand numbness.