Wrist & hand decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his active duty periods and the relationship between his current conditions and military service. The AOJ must verify the Veteran’s ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA dates, obtain addendum medical opinions, and schedule a VA examination.

The Board has determined that additional medical records are needed and a VA medical opinion is required to address the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea. The claims for service connection for various conditions are being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected right wrist disability is granted a 10 percent disability rating, but no higher.

The Board has remanded three increased rating claims and the TDIU claim due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The issues will be readjudicated based on all available evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hand and left hand carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service or any service-connected condition.

The Board has previously denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability, but the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) has remanded this issue due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran’s statements and all diagnosed right shoulder disabilities. The case is now being remanded for further development and readjudication.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome of his arms and hands due to exposure to herbicides, including Agent Orange. The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed during service in an area near the Korean demilitarized zone.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, and the issues of secondary service connection have been remanded due to new evidence received since the last denial. The issue of TDIU is also inextricably intertwined with the rating claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss of use of a hand or foot, permanent impairment of both eyes, severe burn injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ankylosis of a knee or hip. Therefore, his claim for financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting medical opinions and a need for a new expert opinion regarding the service connection of the left wrist disability, including the ganglion cyst.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include PTSD, teeth grinding, right arm carpal tunnel syndrome, back, neck, shoulder, and knee disorders, as well as a skin disorder.

Service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea is denied.,Service connection for a Left Hip Disability and Right Side Carpal Tunnel Syndrome are granted.,An earlier effective date, new and material evidence for service connection for bilateral knee conditions and numbness disabilities, and increased ratings for lumbar spine disability, left ankle disability, and PTSD (prior to June 13, 2017) are dismissed.

The Board has denied service connection for left and right wrist disabilities due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on his low back strain and right ankle strain are also remanded.

The Veteran's right wrist disability has been rated as 10 percent prior to June 7, 2017 and denied for higher ratings thereafter. The Board found no ankylosis or other exceptional circumstances warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's bladder disability, skin conditions, and memory loss are granted service connection on a secondary basis to her service-connected hysterectomy. The dental condition is denied as not related to service or the hysterectomy.

The Board has granted service connection for carpal tunnel of the right wrist and left wrist, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are due to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his claims of service connection for left and right wrist CTS. The Board finds the March 2015 VA examination inadequate as it did not address the Veteran's lay statements about symptoms during service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lipomas in the bilateral wrists and chest is being remanded due to inadequate examination addressing his assertion of flare-ups.

The Veteran's claim for right carpal tunnel was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection is granted.,The Veteran's claim for hearing loss, right ear was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection is granted.,Service connection for hearing loss, right ear is denied as there is no current diagnosis meeting VA standards.,Service connection for surgical scars, bilateral shoulders is denied as they do not meet disabling effects under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for bilateral focal median nerve entrapment neuropathy early stage carpal tunnel syndrome and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of lower extremities, both secondary to Agent Orange exposure.