Wrist & hand decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's residuals of a right wrist injury, finding that his current condition is related to an in-service injury and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected right shoulder and wrist disabilities, as well as his TDIU claim due to incomplete examination reports. The AOJ must ensure that any new examinations comply with VA regulations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of his reported flare-ups.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including bilateral deafness, a bilateral hip disorder, a neck disorder, a bilateral shoulder disorder, a back disorder, a bilateral knee disorder, a bilateral ankle disorder, a bilateral arm disorder, carpal tunnel syndrome of the bilateral hands, an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder), hypertensive cardiovascular disease, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, a bilateral elbow disorder, and a bilateral foot disorder were not caused by or related to his active duty service.,The Veteran's claimed conditions did not manifest within one year after separation from service.

The Veteran's left ankle lateral/collateral ligament sprain is granted as service-connected. The initial rating for his left knee strain remains at 10 percent, with the issue of a higher rating being remanded. Service connection for nasal disability and right wrist disability are also remanded. The TDIU claim from June 11, 2007 through November 15, 2011 is still pending.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, acquired psychiatric disorder, right shoulder disability, right wrist disability (including carpal tunnel syndrome), cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability have all been denied.,There is no evidence of a current disability in any of the claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral plantar fasciitis, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right hand condition (including carpal tunnel syndrome), and sleep apnea due to issues with the evidence considered and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for a left wrist disability and a left wrist scar, finding that the earliest post-service evidence of these disabilities is more than 25 years after separation from service. The Veteran's STRs did not document any left wrist injury or chronic complaints.

The Board has granted an effective date of January 27, 2010 for the grant of a 30 percent evaluation for the service-connected right wrist disability to include ankylosis. The Veteran's claim for service connection for impairment of radial, ulnar and median nerves as secondary to his right wrist condition is denied due to lack of evidence showing neurological impairment prior to April 7, 2020.

The Board has withdrawn several issues from the Veteran's appeal, including those related to PTSD, IBS, lumbar degenerative disc disease and lumbar facet hypertrophy, obstructive sleep apnea, left ankle fracture with residual loose body, tendonitis and left foot talar osteochondral defect, right ankle osteochondral defect status post-surgical repair with history of strain. The Board has also remanded the Veteran's TDIU claim and his claims for service connection for blood clots of the left knee.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings in excess of the current disability ratings for his right wrist, back, sleep apnea, and right shoulder disabilities are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations conducted several years ago. Additional development is needed to assess the current severity levels of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete VA examinations and other procedural issues. The Veteran is also being referred for a TDIU determination prior to July 22, 2020.

The Board has determined that the etiological opinions provided by VA examiners are not based on an accurate factual premise and lack probative weight. Therefore, these claims are remanded for additional development.,VA examiners have failed to consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms and their continuity since service.

The Veteran's right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome is granted service connection, while the left upper extremity neurological disability (claimed as carpal tunnel) remains in dispute and remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's left hand disability, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus are granted service connection.,Service connection for hypertension is denied as there was no chronic disease during service or continuous symptoms after service.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for burn scars of the right and left arms, finding that the scars do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's skin disability rating criteria.,Service connection was also denied for a right forearm disability, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist, and bronchial asthma.

The Board has granted service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to her military service.,Service connection was denied for a left thumb disorder due to lack of evidence showing a current disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that her combined rating of 70% or more makes it at least as likely as not that she is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for a right upper extremity neurological disability, finding no evidence of onset during service or within one year of presumed herbicide exposure. The disabilities were not related to service.

The Veteran's application to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder is granted. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for a right wrist condition and a right knee disorder.