Wrist & hand decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis involving hands, wrists, knees, ankles, and pulmonary nodules was not received until April 13, 2010. The effective date of the award is therefore set to April 13, 2010.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic left shoulder disability and left wrist carpal tunnel are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination. The examination should address whether any left shoulder disability began during service, was noted during service with continuity of symptoms since service, or is related to other service-connected disabilities such as cervical spine disability or falls from a lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hemorrhoids, bilateral hearing loss, carpal tunnel syndrome of the upper extremities, hip and knee disabilities, and eye disability (glaucoma) are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to insufficient evidence in some areas, particularly regarding the Veteran's left wrist condition and bilateral hamstring strains.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral wrist disability and a back disability have been denied. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for a right knee disability and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck, back, left hip, right knee, carpal tunnel syndrome of the bilateral upper extremities, and headache conditions due to inadequate examinations and failure to address certain aspects of his claims.

The appeal to reopen service connection for various knee and foot disabilities is granted. However, the preponderance of evidence does not support finding that these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome as there was no evidence of an in-service incurrence or a causal relationship to the Veteran's service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right wrist degenerative arthritis status post fracture was denied because the Veteran failed to report for a necessary VA examination without good cause.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating were denied. The Board found insufficient evidence to support the Veteran's claims of left wrist disorder, post-TKR left knee disability, right knee disability, and lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied separate compensable ratings for limitation of motion associated with left and right wrist ganglion cyst excision scars, as the Veteran's range of motion did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under DC 5215.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including adjustment disorder and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, are found to be so severe that they render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left wrist disability, which is currently considered service-connected.

The Veteran's initial ratings for left wrist and thumb arthritis have been granted at a 10 percent level.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right hip, left hip, left wrist, right wrist, and right hand psoriatic arthritis as they require additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for jaw condition, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, bilateral flatfoot, left wrist tendinitis, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for right wrist injury and fracture of the right hand are being reviewed, with a focus on whether there is evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a left shoulder disability, bilateral wrist and ankle disabilities, and a back disability have been denied. The right shoulder disability, diabetes, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded for further examination.,The Veteran was not provided with examinations to determine the current nature and etiology of his claimed conditions by VA since those in February 2013.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to specific dates are being remanded due to procedural issues and lack of formal or informal claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various wrist, ankle, knee, and elbow disabilities are denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed condition or link to service. The claim for memory loss is also denied.