Wrist & hand decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of left wrist fracture has been denied.,A separate rating of 10 percent for left thumb arthritis with painful limitation of motion is granted.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and rating for diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and fracture of the left wrist due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective December 11, 2010 due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The remaining issues of service connection for left ankle degenerative arthritis and left wrist fracture are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a back injury of the lumbar spine due to lack of evidence linking it to service.,The Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for residuals of bilateral chalazion, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity, and carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity are remanded as there is insufficient medical opinion regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his right wrist disability was denied. The Board also found that the effective date of service connection for his right wrist disability should be April 9, 2014.,The Veteran's sinus disorder and hernia residuals claims are remanded as additional evidence is needed to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including arthritis of the shoulders, left ankle, right knee, cervical spine, and right wrist, are granted. The Veteran is also awarded a 20% rating for his left knee disability since June 12, 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left lower extremity disabilities have resulted in permanent loss of use of both feet, qualifying him for financial assistance to purchase an automobile or adaptive equipment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and remanded several issues, including PTSD, lumbar spine disorder, left palm scar, hypertension, and right wrist ulnar styloid unfused apophysis. The Veteran is also seeking TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the likely etiology of his bilateral wrist and back disabilities. The claims are being returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of substantial compliance with its August 2021 decision, specifically regarding obtaining VA treatment records from 1967.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine, left ankle, right ankle, and left wrist disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Board has not fully complied with its previous remand instructions and thus the TDIU claim is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and medical opinions. The issues include psychiatric conditions, gastroenteritis, hepatitis B and C, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, tinnitus, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, bilateral hearing loss, and a right wrist disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to potential eligibility for SMC under certain criteria. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are being evaluated in detail.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for a hand disability (carpal tunnel syndrome). The Veteran's claim is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's left wrist ganglion cyst and bilateral De Quervain's tendonitis were granted an initial rating of 10 percent. The Veteran was denied higher ratings for her conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a non-neurological disability of the right foot and an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for a psychiatric disability are remanded, as is the issue of TDIU due to the interrelated nature of these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disability and migraine headache disability have been granted. The right wrist disability is related to an in-service injury, while the migraine headaches are also related to an in-service event.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disorder, left upper extremity disorder (claimed as carpal tunnel syndrome), right upper extremity disorder (claimed as right carpal tunnel syndrome), and major depressive disorder due to insufficient evidence or inadequate opinions. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability and right carpal tunnel syndrome due to inadequate rationale in the VA examination reports. The cases are returned to the AOJ for further development.