Wrist & hand decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals. The Board has also remanded several issues including sleep apnea, lower back disability, and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has found that another remand is necessary as the Veteran is entitled to substantial compliance with Board remand directives. The case was previously before the Board in June 2019, and it has been returned for appellate consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the remaining claims of low back disability, right knee disability, bilateral wrist disabilities, and bilateral finger neuropathy.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including evaluations for degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar and cervical spines, bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, right and left carpal tunnel syndromes, and left arm numbness. The Veteran is also seeking service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claim for a retrospective examination to assess the impact of service-connected disabilities on the Veteran's work capacity during the period from April 21, 2014 to February 1, 2016. The effective date is not addressed as it pertains to the retroactive application of a 100% schedular rating.

The Board has denied service connection for a left hand carpal injury, low back disorder, venereal warts, tinea versicolor, and right knee injury. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these claims.,Service connection for a left wrist disorder remains pending as the Veteran's claim was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and secondary service connection have been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The initial rating for PTSD remains denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including asthma, migraines, bilateral hip and knee disorders, a GI disorder, and IBS. The Veteran's claims are reopened due to new evidence received since the previous decisions.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, a left-hand disability (other than carpal tunnel syndrome), a right-hand disability (other than carpal tunnel syndrome), neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and neuropathy of the right lower extremity.,The Board found that there was no current diagnosis of left ear hearing loss or any other hand or lower extremity disabilities. The Veteran's symptoms were not supported by medical evidence.

The appeals for service connection for bilateral cataracts, prostate cancer, and tinnitus have been dismissed.,Service connection has been granted for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity and right upper extremity.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left wrist disability, diagnosed as scapholunate ligament disruption with osteoarthritis. The decision finds that the current disability is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury and his duties during active service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hiatal hernia with GERD, bilateral shin splints, allergic rhinitis, hypertension, hemorrhoids, right wrist sprain, left wrist sprain, thoracolumbar spine disability, and bilateral pes planus were granted effective July 1, 2016. Claims for other conditions are denied as they were not received within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals, right wrist dislocation, left knee medial meniscus tear post medial meniscectomy, bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU claims are all remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is attributed to a personality disorder, not service.,Service connection for bruxism is denied as it is not related to an in-service event or disease and is secondary to his personality disorder.,The right wrist disability was not incurred during service and is unrelated to any in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for blindness, glaucoma, hypertension, TBI, rheumatoid arthritis, right shoulder pain, left shoulder pain, left elbow disorder, right shoulder disorder, right wrist disorder, left wrist disorder, numbness and stiffness in the right toes, numbness, pain, and tingling in the left leg, joint pain and swelling in the jaw, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, left knee disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, bilateral pes planus, left foot bunions, right foot bunions, residuals of a rib fracture, right hand disorder, left hand disorder, tonsillitis, dizzy spells, chronic fatigue disorder, pharyngitis (inflammation of the throat), allergy disorder, breathing disorder, sleep apnea, heart disorder manifest by an irregular heartbeat, ulcer, gastritis, gastrointestinal disorder manifested by gas and stomach problems, GERD, kidney disorder, residuals of a left chest lipoma, obesity, left arm disorder, and numbness, pain, and stiffness in the fingers.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board granted his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to insufficient rationale in previous opinions and the need for additional medical examinations. The issues are left hand disorder, bilateral wrist radiculopathy, and bilateral ulnar nerve entrapment.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for vertigo, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and a left wrist disorder were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was also denied due to the lack of a disability under VA guidelines.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, entitlement to increased rating for left wrist healed fracture with degenerative disease, and entitlement to increased rating for right elbow chronic epicondylitis.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates for service connection of PTSD, a low back disability, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, a lumbar back scar, and tinnitus. The remaining claims have been remanded.