Wrist & hand decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete information and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining clarification on TDIU and scheduling VA examinations to assess her cervical spine disability and upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus. The Veteran's bilateral chronic dry eye syndrome is granted with a separate 20 percent rating throughout the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives and the need for additional medical opinions. The TDIU claim is deferred until the other service connection claims are resolved.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a bilateral knee condition, and remanded the issues related to gout, rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative arthritis of the ankles, feet, right hand, and right wrist. The claims are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened and granted.,Service connection is granted for left wrist chronic nerve disability secondary to postoperative residuals of left wrist lump excision.,Service connection is denied for prostate disability.,Service connection is denied for right testicle epididymitis.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and a need for additional records related to the Veteran's workman's compensation claims.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, left ankle tendonitis, and sleep apnea. Service connection for a left wrist disability is denied.

The Board denied service connection for denervation of left C8/T1 myotomes with cervical radiculopathy, granted service connection for left wrist median neuropathy and left elbow ulnar neuropathy, but denied an initial compensable rating for residuals of left fifth digit fracture.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding his right knee condition, left trigger finger, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, and left wrist conditions. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disability, right and left lower extremity frostbite residuals, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), prostate cancer, cervical spine disability, shoulder, elbow, and wrist disabilities, and gastrointestinal disorders. The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is rated at a 30 percent rating for residuals of right wrist fracture resulting in ankylosis. The Veteran also received a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder was denied. The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities was granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging an orthopedic examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected right wrist disability. The issues of entitlement to a higher rating for the right wrist disability and TDIU prior to November 18, 2008 are also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increase in SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance, finding that his service-connected conditions do not render him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral lower and upper extremity neurological disabilities and fibromyalgia due to potential exposure to toxic chemicals during service, but finds no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for a right pulmonary nodule was denied as his lung condition had no significant effect on his pulmonary function and he has not required any medication or oxygen therapy to treat it.,The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a right wrist scapholunate dislocation was denied as the evidence did not show favorable or unfavorable ankylosis, and the range of motion tests showed no limitation that would warrant such a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left wrist and finger disabilities due to worsening symptoms since her last VA examinations in May 2013. The Veteran was not contacted about the upcoming VA examinations, so another attempt should be made to schedule her for new VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches, left shoulder condition, left wrist condition, and right shoulder condition due to incomplete development of records and failure to consider lay statements in the nexus opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for TBI is granted. The claims for Dercum's disease, acromegaly, right and left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, hypermobility syndrome, testicular/inguinal hernia (left inguinal fat pad hernia), male hypogonadism, respiratory disability, mast cell disorder, hemolytic anemia, and TMJ are all denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.