Wrist & hand decisions — 2021

The Board has found that further development of the medical evidence is needed for the Veteran's claims, including new VA examinations to assess the current severity of his left carpal tunnel syndrome and left wrist disability.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for left and right wrist ganglion cysts prior to February 1, 2012. The Veteran's bilateral wrist disorders are rated based on limitation of motion under DC 5215. The issues of entitlement to separate disability ratings for neurological abnormalities associated with the bilateral wrist ganglion cysts and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities have been remanded.

The Board dismissed all appeals due to the Veteran's death before a decision was made.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, right wrist as there is no current diagnosis of this condition and the symptoms are already accounted for by her service-connected right wrist strain.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is rated at 30 percent since November 18, 2020. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating as there is no ankylosis of the dominant wrist in any other position except favorable.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as service-connected, while his gout and/or generalized arthritis, left leg disability, right leg/right ankle disability, skin disability of the feet, bilateral foot disability, carpal tunnel syndrome, acid reflux, hemorrhoids, poor circulation/venous insufficiency, and headache disability are denied. The Veteran's jock itch is also denied.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, as the previous opinions were inadequate and did not consider all relevant evidence.

The Board denied an extraschedular rating for left wrist arthritis, finding that the disability is adequately compensated by the current schedular criteria and there are no related factors such as marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from August 8, 2017 to December 26, 2017. The Board granted entitlement to TDIU during this period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including low back disability, bilateral leg disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and major depressive disorder), and bronchial asthma. The evidence submitted was found to be new but not material.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for right upper extremity chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (previously carpal tunnel syndrome) is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and updated treatment records.

The Veteran's initial increased ratings for left wrist and right hand disabilities have been denied as there is no evidence of ankylosis or arthritis that would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability and left wrist degenerative joint disease have rendered him unable to maintain substantial gainful employment since November 20, 2015. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for this period.

The Board has found that service connection is warranted for right knee arthritis. The Veteran's claims for left wrist disability, right hip disability, right leg disability (secondary to low back disability), and sciatica (secondary to low back disability) are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's left wrist disability is being reviewed again for service connection.

The Veteran's right knee and left knee disabilities have been granted initial evaluations of 10 percent, effective prior to November 5, 2015. The Veteran’s service connection claims for other joint pain conditions are remanded.,The Veteran's left ring finger sprain has not met the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has denied service connection for psychiatric disorders, including Major depressive disorder and Generalized anxiety disorder, as they are not linked to disease or injury incurred in active service.,Service connection for a giant cell bone tumor of the right wrist is also denied.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's left and right wrist disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of ankylosis in either wrist.

The claim for service connection is reopened, but the issues of left carpal tunnel syndrome, left ulnar entrapment, cervical spine disorder, and left ear hearing loss are remanded due to lack of a nexus opinion.