Wrist & hand decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for right hand, left hand, right wrist, and left wrist conditions based on the Veteran's in-service boxing activities.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective February 1, 2013. The case is remanded for additional evidence regarding marginal employment between December 21, 2011 and June 4, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case for a determination of whether the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, as he does not meet the schedular threshold for TDIU but may be eligible under an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives regarding TDIU. The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being sent back for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.,The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for his knee conditions, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, lumbar spine disorder, thoracic spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, neurological deficits, carpal tunnel syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to October 16, 2015 for service connection of various hand, wrist, knee, and shoulder conditions. The decision found that the Veteran did not file his claims within one year of receiving a notification of denial in May 2007.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for residuals of trauma to the right forearm was denied. However, he received an initial compensable rating (10%) for limitation of motion of his right wrist.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development to determine if any current respiratory, neck, hip, wrist, hand, or knee disabilities are related to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right wrist disability, to include traumatic arthritis. The Board also granted service connection for this condition as it is at least in equipoise with evidence showing that the current right wrist disability had its onset during active duty and continues since then.

The Veteran's claim for a rating greater than 10 percent for tinnitus is denied. The effective date for service connection of tinnitus is denied as there was no earlier request prior to February 7, 2008. TDIU is granted.

The claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Veteran's new and material evidence did not provide sufficient information to reopen the claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right wrist disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's left wrist disability and associated neurological symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for initial ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, treatment records review, and development of his case. The specific issues include pes planus (left foot), cervical spine disability, bilateral wrist, lumbar spine, bilateral ankle, bilateral hip, right ear hearing loss, sinus/rhinitis/nose bleeds, and dysentery and residuals of food poisoning.

The Board's decision denying service connection for a right wrist and left hip condition is vacated due to lack of jurisdiction.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral wrist pain, including carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), need to be remanded due to outstanding medical records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, but finds that additional examinations and/or development are necessary before these claims can be decided.

The Veteran's initial ratings for vasomotor rhinitis, left wrist condition, and right ankle disability are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations.,The Veteran's initial rating for a right knee disability is being remanded as his representative submitted an independent medical opinion suggesting that it may be secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability. Updated VA examination is needed.,The Veteran's claims of varicose veins, back condition, gastrointestinal disability (manifesting in blood in stool), prostate condition, and hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and medical opinions regarding their etiology.,The Veteran's recurrent sinus condition and right eye condition are being remanded as his representative submitted an independent medical opinion suggesting that they may be secondary to his service-connected vasomotor rhinitis. Updated VA examination is needed.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including mastoiditis, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, DJD of the AC joint, DDD of the cervical and lumbar spine, and a left leg condition. The appeals are pending for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for neck, bilateral wrist, bilateral hip, bilateral knee, bilateral ankle, bilateral foot, bilateral shoulder, and bilateral elbow disabilities due to insufficient evidence.,No new or material evidence was provided to reopen any of these service connection claims.