Wrist & hand decisions — 2020

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disability, bilateral hearing loss, arthritis due to trauma with joint pain, left shoulder disability, right elbow disability, left elbow disability, right wrist disability, left wrist disability, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability are all granted. The service connection is determined to be direct.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings on his service-connected hemorrhoids and left wrist disabilities, as well as his claim for a TDIU, are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence. The January 2019 VA examinations of his service-connected conditions have not been considered in conjunction with these claims.

The Board has denied all service connection claims for various conditions, including nerve damage, tinnitus, bipolar disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, right knee disability, carpal tunnel syndrome, gastritis, bilateral hearing loss, and fibromyalgia. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current left hand and wrist conditions are related to his in-service wart removal. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's separate chronic right-hand disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected TFCC tear with scar, right wrist and traumatic arthritis of the PIP joint of the right index finger. The Veteran also receives a TDIU prior to November 8, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the underlying claims remain denied. The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in denying these claims.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate consideration of evidence prior to April 25, 2017. The Veteran's left wrist disability and service-connected left thumb disability are inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for carpal tunnel syndrome of the bilateral upper extremities have been remanded due to need for additional medical examination.,VA treatment records should be updated, and a VA examiner should assess the current severity of the Veteran’s service-connected carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome as there is no evidence of the condition during her period of service and the preponderance of the evidence shows she does not have CTS at any time during the pendency of her claim.

The Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is found to be etiologically related to her time in active service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's left wrist disability is remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is related to an in-service injury, including a left wrist sprain. The examiner must also assess the likelihood of arthritis developing during service or within one year post-service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 17, 2008.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right wrist, back, right ankle, and skin disabilities due to scheduling issues and the need to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Veteran's claims for left and right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome were denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was reopened, but service connection is still not established.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance due to use of custom insoles/sling supports was denied as shoes are not classified as articles of 'clothing' that can be damaged by wear and tear for purposes of a VA clothing allowance.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to missing VA examinations. The issues include rating increases and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for left wrist disability and service connection for sinus disability due to deficiencies in the examination reports, lack of private treatment records, and other procedural issues.

The Veteran's right wrist strain is rated at 10 percent, the maximum available rating.,Prior to November 15, 2019, his bilateral hearing loss disability was not compensable.,Beginning November 15, 2019, his bilateral hearing loss disability warrants a 30 percent rating.

The Board denied service connection for a right wrist disorder and sleep apnea, finding that the evidence did not support these claims.

The Veteran's PTSD, bilateral wrist disorder, and other service-connected conditions have been granted initial disability ratings. The TDIU claim for the period prior to February 23, 2018, has also been granted.