Wrist & hand decisions — 2021

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including left wrist radiocarpal disease, right wrist radiocarpal disease, right wrist tendonitis, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), duodenitis, arthritis of the right foot, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The Board found that these conditions are not related to service or any presumptive exposure basis.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic back, right knee, and right wrist disorders on a presumptive basis as they manifested to a compensable degree within one year of separation from active duty.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings and service connection has been denied. The right arm disability, including the gunshot wound residuals, is not rated higher than 10 percent due to limited range of motion. A separate rating for carpal tunnel and ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is remanded. The case requires additional information from the Veteran regarding his employment history and a VA examination to assess the full extent of his functional impairments.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented her from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 12, 2020.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete development and the need for additional medical opinions. The issues of service connection, TDIU, and psychosis are all remanded.

The Veteran's case is being remanded for new VA examinations to evaluate his service-connected residuals of a right wrist fracture and for consideration of an extraschedular rating and TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board denied service connection for a right wrist disorder, including as secondary to service-connected right thumb fracture residuals, finding no evidence of in-service onset or relationship to the disability.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as schizoaffective disorder. The issues of service connection for a back disability and a left wrist disability are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience during the period from January 1, 2010 through June 18, 2010.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims, including those for bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disability, right wrist disability, perforated right ear drum, and cervical spine disability. The remaining claims of sinusitis, respiratory disability (including asthma and bronchitis), and gastroesophageal reflux disease have been remanded as well.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular evaluation based on limitation of motion. The Board finds no evidence of ankylosis or other conditions that would warrant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left wrist disability, including chronic sprain, possible disuse atrophy versus ulnar neuropathy, and possible SL tear, is causally related to his in-service injury during active duty. As a result, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for radiculopathy, sciatic nerve left lower extremity and right wrist sprain were denied. The claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with anterolistheses and spondylolysis was also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left wrist disability and a colon disability, both claimed as related to exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran is presumed exposed to herbicide agents based on his service in Vietnam, but the claim for service connection for the colon disability cannot be granted under this presumption.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were generally remanded, with some issues having been addressed. The hearing loss case was denied, the right wrist strain received a 10% rating, and the painful laceration of the medial left thigh remains at a noncompensable rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and failure to consider certain treatment records and lay statements.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various joint disabilities, including back, wrist, and elbow conditions. The appeals are based on his service in Southwest Asia during Operation Desert Storm. Further medical evaluation is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his Gulf War service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, leaving no issues to be decided by the Board.