Wrist & hand decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The appeal for service connection for a bilateral foot disability, to include the residuals of frost bite, is dismissed. The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for left wrist strain and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for painful motion of the bilateral knees, wrists, and feet was denied. The Board also granted TDIU effective October 11, 2005, and eligibility for DEA benefits effective that date.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for her right wrist disability and TDIU prior to June 26, 2016 are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding whether she has a current diagnosis of right carpal tunnel syndrome related to service or caused by her service-connected right wrist disability.

The Veteran's left wrist disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, the maximum rating available based on limitation of motion. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence does not support an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the left wrist disability at any time during the pendency of this appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for a right wrist disability (osteoarthritis) and a left wrist disability (osteoarthritis), both of which are considered secondary to the Veteran's now service-connected right wrist disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder has been reopened, but the Board finds that additional evidence is needed to determine if his current symptoms are related to military service. The Veteran also needs VA examinations to assess the severity of his PTSD and left wrist disability.

The Veteran's right wrist scar is currently rated at 10 percent for the period prior to October 15, 2020. The appeal for a higher rating is denied for the period from October 15, 2020 onward.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his complaints of numbness and pain in his feet, wrists, and hands. The issues include gout, polyneuropathy, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced to suggest that the condition is attributable to her service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to unclear diagnoses and need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his conditions, particularly in relation to his diabetes.

The Veteran's right wrist tendonitis and PTSD, major depressive disorder, and alcohol abuse disorder are being remanded for further development. The TDIU issue is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the right wrist disability.

The Board has granted service connection for right wrist/hand arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is of service origin and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's left wrist disability. The issues of service connection for a left knee disability and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to incomplete or insufficient examination reports.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records from inpatient treatment at DeWitt Army Community Hospital and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were not chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of service separation. The Board also found no evidence linking the current condition to herbicide exposure or other service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not render him unemployable due to his right ulnar neuropathy and osteoarthritis of the right wrist, as he was capable of performing activities required by employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist, left wrist, left foot pes planus, and right foot flat pes planus due to inadequate examination in April 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand and sleep apnea, finding that both conditions had their onset during active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral CTS and left elbow tendinosis, both of which are related to service. Effective August 5, 2015, the Veteran is now entitled to a 40% disability rating for his lumbar spine disability.