Wrist & hand decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for entitlement to service connection for a low back disability and whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen her claim for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome due to inadequate examination reports and procedural issues.

The Veteran's Raynaud's syndrome and wrist disabilities have been rated based on their specific manifestations, with separate ratings for muscle impairment affecting dexterity and grip strength of the hands. A TDIU has also been granted.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is presumed to be related to his conceded in-service herbicide agent exposure.,The Veteran's lacunar cerebral infarcts are proximately due to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeals for carpal tunnel syndrome, right upper extremity; carpal tunnel syndrome, left upper extremity; and dental disorder have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,The Veteran's appeals for gastroesophageal disorder (including Barrett's disease and acid reflux); back disorder; bilateral foot disorder (Morton's neuroma, metatarsalgia, and hallux rigidus); and right shoulder disorder are remanded.

The Board has decided that the claims for service connection for bilateral upper and lower arm conditions need to be remanded due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The Veteran's request for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right wrist and bilateral knee disabilities are related to his active duty service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist and elbow disorders have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The claim for a right shoulder disorder has been reopened and granted.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his chronic lumbar strain and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for the lumbar strain, as it did not meet the criteria for such a rating based on limitation of motion or other factors. For the TDIU claim, the Veteran's combined disability rating had already reached 100% due to his service-connected disabilities, including cervical radiculopathy and left knee instability, which precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right upper extremity condition, including carpal tunnel syndrome and right elbow degenerative joint disease, is related to his active service. The Board granted the claim as reasonable doubt was resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded four separate claims for service connection for arthritis of the right wrist, left wrist, left hand, and right hand due to insufficient evidence in the previous decision.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and denied claims for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus and entitlement to TDIU. The Veteran's current diagnoses of carpal tunnel syndrome were not shown as chronic in service or within the applicable presumptive period, and continuity of symptomatology was not established.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral wrist conditions due to inadequate opinions in the prior VA examinations and a need for additional development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding service connection for PTSD, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and increased rating for right shoulder strain.

The Board denied service connection for left wrist and right wrist disabilities, finding that they are not related to the Veteran's military service or a service-connected disability.,The Board also denied an increased rating for the Veteran's right Achilles tendon disability.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of both upper extremities due to insufficient medical opinions addressing whether the Veteran's conditions are secondary to his service-connected disabilities, specifically Meniere's disease.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA and non-VA treatment records, arranging for orthopedic examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine and right wrist disabilities, and resolving discrepancies in previous examination findings.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues are being remanded.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but the claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, effective June 24, 2009.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a dental condition and a 10 percent evaluation based on multiple, noncompensable service-connected disabilities. The decision found that the Veteran did not have a current compensable disability for VA purposes during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right hand/wrist injury and PTSD due to new evidence submitted by the appellant, including his military personnel records which indicate he reported an in-service injury. The Board will consider whether this evidence raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.