Wrist & hand decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left wrist disorders due to additional medical inquiry.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is remanded due to uncertainty about his exposure to Agent Orange while on the U.S.S. Tolovana.,The Veteran's tumor, left side of head, is remanded as there is a dispute over whether he was exposed to herbicide agents during service.,The Veteran's hearing loss, left ear, and burn scar right hand and wrist are also remanded due to the need for further evidence and clarification.,Service connection for these conditions will be remanded until more information about exposure to Agent Orange is obtained.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal, leaving no issues remaining for review.

The Veteran's appeal of the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for right wrist fracture residuals is dismissed. The Board has remanded issues related to PTSD, acquired mental disorder other than PTSD, PTD, and bilateral pes planus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal disability, bilateral elbow injury residuals, right wrist and hand injury residuals, head injury residuals, and hearing loss in the right ear due to incomplete service treatment records and insufficient evidence of a relationship between his current disabilities and service.

The Board has granted service connection for left ulnar neuropathy and remanded the cases of right-hand disability, left-hand disability (other than ulnar neuropathy), and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder, left elbow, and right elbow arthritis, COPD, and kidney stones were denied. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the current diagnoses and service or any presumptive exposure.,Service connection was not granted as there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim for service connection for sciatica of the left lower extremity as she withdrew her appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of a low back disorder, lump on right wrist, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression) due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these claims.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD is denied as no indication of intent to apply prior to November 26, 2014 was found.,Service connection for asthma (claimed as a lung inhalational injury) is granted based on the onset during service and continued since then.,The Veteran's TBI claim requires clarification due to insufficient rationale in the August 2017 VA examination report.,A new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of the low back disability (DDD at L4-L5).,Left wrist and left shoulder conditions require a new VA examination for proper assessment.,Hypertension, gastroenteritis, and sleep apnea are remanded issues as no specific service connection theory or exposure basis is provided.,Service connection for asthma (claimed as a lung inhalational injury) is granted based on the onset during service and continued since then.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to issues with her lumbar spine, lower extremity radiculopathy, wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, and shoulder disability. The claims are being remanded for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome secondary to his right fifth metacarpal fracture and a compensable evaluation for the same were denied. However, he was granted a 10% rating based on multiple non-compensable service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left ulnar neuropathy with CTS of the left upper extremity is granted a 40 percent evaluation, effective from when his claim was filed.

The Veteran's right wrist disability has been rated at 10 percent for painful motion. The Board denied a higher rating as the loss of motion is not severe enough to warrant a compensable rating under Diagnostic Codes 5215 or 5214.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate addressing of whether the preexisting left wrist disability increased in severity or was aggravated by service, and if so, whether clear and unmistakable evidence shows that any increase in severity was caused not by service but by the natural progress of the condition.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, left wrist disability, and left ankle disability. The right ankle disability is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with additional evidence and a new VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a kidney disability, back disability, bilateral CTS, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence of current disabilities. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for a deviated septum and right wrist condition due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the Veteran's lay assertions. The dental claim is denied.