Wrist & hand decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral wrist conditions as there is no current diagnosis related to his wrists and no evidence of functional impairment in earning capacity.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for various shoulder and hip disabilities, as well as his request for an earlier effective date for a 20% rating for lumbosacral strain. The Veteran is also granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome and left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome. The claim for a right hip condition is remanded.

The Veteran's service connection for left wrist strain is granted, and an initial rating of 10 percent for right knee limitation of flexion (degenerative joint disease) is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, left extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, and cervical spondylosis, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for clothing allowances due to the use of bilateral knee braces, back brace, and wrist braces have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a clothing allowance as his service-connected disabilities do not result in the requisite loss of use of hands or feet, nor are his braces certified by the Under Secretary for Health or designee to cause wear and tear on articles of clothing.,The Veteran's claims were remanded due to missing records including the September 2017 decision, April 2018 Notice of Disagreement, Statement of the Case, Substantive Appeal, and Application for Clothing Allowance forms.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for disabilities of his hands and feet, as there is no evidence of a current disability related to in-service cold weather exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral elbow disorder, cervical spine disorder, bilateral wrist disorder, gastrointestinal disorder (IBS), right shoulder disorder, and bilateral knee disorder. The issues are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than September 20, 2014 for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, carpal tunnel of the right wrist, and carpal tunnel of the left arm have been denied. The case is remanded due to issues with his initial ratings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been withdrawn. The Board has also denied his claim for bilateral hearing loss and granted his claim for a head scar. The remaining issues, including arthritis of the right wrist, right shoulder rotator entrapment, bilateral foot pain, head trauma, diabetes mellitus, numbness in hands (secondary to diabetes), and hemorrhoids, have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracic outlet syndrome and right wrist neuropathy due to potential aggravation by her service-connected de Quervain’s tenosynovitis.

The Veteran's low back condition is rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds that ankylosis does not apply due to maintained range of motion. The cervical spine disorder and bilateral hand neurological disorder are remanded for further examination.,Service connection for a disability manifested by muscle and joint pain other fibromyalgia as due to environmental hazard exposure during Gulf War service is also remanded.

The Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome was granted a 30 percent rating, effective July 21, 2020. The Board found that the condition did not meet criteria for an increased evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examination and need for a new opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a rating in excess of 50 percent for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been dismissed.,The appeals for service connection for bilateral shin disabilities, right wrist disability, left wrist disability, and prostate disability have been remanded due to new evidence received since the final decisions denying these claims.,The Veteran's appeal regarding a rating in excess of 20 percent for hemorrhoids; and in excess of 10 percent for hemorrhoids has been remanded. The compensable ratings for scar (status post hemorrhoid surgery) and chronic tinea pedis have also been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple conditions are being remanded due to incomplete development of the record and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome. Further development is needed before service connection can be adjudicated.

The Board has granted service connection for right wrist degenerative arthritis, status post arthroplasty. The claim of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions prevent him from securing and following a gainful occupation, and the Board is remanding his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) to consider if an extraschedular TDIU should be granted.