Wrist & hand decisions — 2020

The Board has dismissed all appeals as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's neurological disorders of the right upper extremity (RUE) and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities (BLE) are granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes.,The Veteran's prostate disorder is remanded for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the condition was present within a year of the Veteran's discharge from active duty.

The Board has remanded three service connection claims due to a lack of recent VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, carpal tunnel syndrome, and an undiagnosed illness are being reviewed again.

The Board has denied service connection for traumatic brain injury and its residuals, obstructive sleep apnea, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and left carpal tunnel syndrome. The issues of entitlement to these conditions are being remanded due to incomplete service personnel records.

The appeals for service connection of various conditions, including left-eye disorder, esophagitis, gastritis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder were dismissed. The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for his shoulder, wrist, fifth finger, and lumbar spine disorders are also dismissed.

The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist and bilateral shoulder conditions are rated at 30 percent combined, meeting criteria for a TDIU on schedular basis. However, his cervical spine condition is remanded, and he does not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from attending to the needs of nature, caring for himself, or protecting himself from the hazards of his environment. The Board finds that he is in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for vitiligo, sleep apnea, hypertension, bilateral plantar fasciitis, TMJ syndrome, right forearm laceration scar, Bechet's disease with intermittent flares of iritis, acne, mouth ulcers, and joint pain are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,The Veteran's initial evaluations for left ring finger fracture and left little finger fracture are also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an ulcer has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,The Board has remanded several issues including left shoulder, right wrist and right-hand disabilities, lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, residuals of fractured ribs, bilateral hearing loss, gastritis, hemorrhoids, and migraine headaches for further development.

The Veteran is granted separate 10 percent ratings for seronegative spondyloarthropathy and ankylosing spondylitis of the right foot and toes, left foot and toes, right shoulder, left shoulder, right hip, left hip, cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, right hand and fingers, left hand and fingers, right wrist, left wrist, and right ankle and left ankle.,The combined ratings for these conditions exceed the rating assigned under DC 5003.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his exposure to herbicide agents, as the legal standard regarding in-service exposure has changed. The Veteran served aboard a ship that was in 'official waters' of Vietnam during parts of his active duty.

The Board dismissed all appeals related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions and new claims, due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's right wrist disorder and bilateral hearing loss claims have been dismissed.,Initial evaluations of 10 percent for service-connected right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome (RKPFS) and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome (LKPFS) are granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to missed VA examinations. The Veteran and his representative have provided updated contact information, but attempts to schedule the necessary examinations were not successful.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is granted a 40 percent rating, effective from the date of this decision.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions were inadequate due to reliance on an unavailable EMG study report. The claim is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right wrist disability was rated at the minimum compensable level, while the low back disorder and nerve disorder of bilateral lower extremities did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of December 30, 2008, for a 10% rating for left wrist scar and ganglion cyst was granted. The increase in disability occurred prior to the filing of the claim but is factually ascertainable.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for a new VA examination due to inadequate previous opinions and the need to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.