Wrist & hand decisions — 2021

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of all claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for acid reflux, sinusitis, lumbar spine disability, bilateral shin splints, and right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome due to insufficient evidence in the service treatment records.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and issuance of a new Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hand, wrist, and right shoulder disabilities are pending.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for residuals of a left wrist injury due to new and relevant evidence received since the July 2017 decision.

The Board denied a claim for an increased rating for right wrist tenosynovitis, finding that the Veteran's condition is already reflected in the current 10% evaluation and does not warrant a higher rating based on functional loss or symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable from June 7, 2012, to December 5, 2012. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence showed he was not unemployable by reason of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA disability benefits records.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the evidence does not support a link to service or any other condition.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, bilateral lower hernia, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, skeletal arthritis, sinus disorder, COPD, headaches, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, depression, bilateral eye disorder, erectile dysfunction, or asbestosis. The Board has also found that the Veteran's service connection claims for these conditions are remanded due to outstanding in-service medical records and VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate efforts by the RO in obtaining VA treatment records from 1972 to 2000. The Veteran is asked to clarify his arthritis and neuropathy claims, and any relevant private treatment records are sought.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative joint disease of the right foot, residuals of right wrist shrapnel wound, and right forearm shell fragment wound have been granted. The Veteran is also granted a temporary increased rating for his right forearm shell fragment wound from April 29, 2010.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is currently rated at 70 percent from December 20, 2019. The Board has remanded the case for a new VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's right wrist degenerative arthritis was tantamount to loss of use of his right hand prior to December 20, 2019.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate for rating purposes, and therefore remanded several issues including service connection for lower back disability, bilateral wrist condition, right elbow disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and PFB. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome is granted as service-connected.,There is no evidence of a chronic right wrist disorder other than carpal tunnel syndrome, and the claim for this condition is denied.,The Veteran's current right knee disability is not considered to be related to his active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist wounds and a rating in excess of 10 percent for strain of the left index, middle, and ring fingers due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions during the appeal period.

The Veteran's right and left upper extremity disabilities, including de Quervain's syndrome and carpal tunnel syndrome with interosseous nerve neurectomies, are rated at 50 percent for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating of her left wrist disability is remanded, and the case is returned to the Board.

The Veteran's low back, right ankle, left ankle, migraine headaches, left wrist, and left foot disabilities are granted as service-connected.,Service connection for amenorrhea and dysplasia is remanded due to conflicting evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left wrist condition is denied.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is granted, as it is proximately due to his service-connected PTSD, asthma, and orthopedic conditions.,The Veteran's claims for lumbosacral spine strain with degenerative arthritis and right ankle condition are remanded for further development.,Service connection for a right ankle condition is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for temporary 100 percent evaluations for bilateral knee disabilities, service connection for various conditions, and increased ratings have been dismissed.,Claims to reopen service connection for right Achilles' tendonitis, right hand condition, left wrist condition, right wrist condition, left ankle condition, left ring finger fracture, bilateral testicular pain, scar of the right occipital temporal area, left arm scar, seborrheic keratosis, fibromyalgia, IBS, diabetes mellitus, left elbow condition, gum damage and missing teeth, bilateral dry eyes, hyperlipidemia, and right elbow condition have been dismissed.,Claims for higher initial ratings and effective dates prior to July 6, 2018 for service connection of cervical spine disability and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy have been dismissed.,The claims for revision based on CUE in the reduction of ratings for left shoulder sprain with degenerative changes, left knee degenerative joint disease, and right knee degenerative joint disease have been denied.