Wrist & hand decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including for VA examinations to assess the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The claim for reopening of hepatitis C service connection is denied.

The Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint and disc disease, is granted service connection.,Service connection for arthritis of the elbows, wrists, hips, ankles, and feet is denied. The condition did not have its onset in service or within a year of service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and remanded the issue of a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to May 20, 2010, for a right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee and wrist disabilities due to potential issues with the evidence or need for further examination.

The Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and tinnitus are granted as service connected. The cases for increased evaluations of the knees and for service connection of a psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded for further examination as the VA examiner did not consider the Veteran's in-service exposure to noise.,The Veteran's vascular dementia is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to his presumed service in Vietnam.,The Veteran's left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome and right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome are being remanded as the VA examiner did not consider the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during service.,The Veteran's left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral foot disability (pes planus, arthritis, hammertoes) are being remanded for a VA examination to determine if they are related to his service in Vietnam.,,,

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, lumbar spine disability, left shoulder and right shoulder disabilities, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, bilateral shoulders, knees, left hand, and wrist, right knee, left knee, left hand wrist degenerative joint disease, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction, preclude substantially gainful employment from June 17, 2008. Therefore, a TDIU is granted for this period.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her grade 3 stress fracture, right foot first metatarsal and right wrist sprain have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current symptoms.

The Veteran's arthritic spurring lumbar spine is currently rated as 40 percent disabling prior to January 17, 2019 and a temporary total evaluation was in effect from June 25, 2018 to October 10, 2018. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.,The Veteran's urinary incontinence is currently rated as 20 percent disabling prior to August 2, 2012 and a 40 percent rating is sought from that date forward. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.,The Veteran's urinary incontinence is currently rated as 40 percent disabling from August 2, 2012. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.,The Veteran's left ankle fracture is currently rated as 30 percent disabling from April 6, 1998 to August 2, 2012 and a higher rating is sought from that date forward. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.,The Veteran's residuals of ankle fracture with ORIF fusion and traumatic arthritis are currently rated as 40 percent disabling from August 2, 2012. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.,The Veteran's skin rash of unknown etiology is currently rated as 30 percent disabling and a higher rating is sought. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.,The Veteran's left wrist arthritis, status post-fracture, is currently rated as 10 percent disabling from April 12, 2016 and a higher rating is sought. The appeal for higher ratings is granted.,The Veteran's pes cavus associated with degenerative arthritis of the spine is currently rated as 20 percent disabling prior to August 2, 2012 and a higher rating is sought from that date forward. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.,The Veteran's status/post hemorrhoidectomy with residuals hemorrhoids are currently rated as 10 percent disabling and a higher rating is sought. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome due to incomplete medical opinions and lack of consideration of certain theories of entitlement.

The Board has denied service connection for right wrist tendonitis and left wrist tendonitis. The Veteran's claim for chronic fatigue is remanded due to insufficient opinion regarding its etiology.

The Board has denied service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist and remanded the claim for a lumbar spine disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and for a reconsideration of the Veteran's right wrist ankylosis rating. The TDIU issue is also being referred for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and further development is needed.

The Board denied service connection for a right wrist disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his active service. The evidence did not support an in-service injury or chronic condition.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20% since December 27, 2006 and 40% from March 14, 2013. The left wrist disability is rated at 20%, 40%, and 40% respectively for the same periods. A TDIU rating is granted effective December 27, 2006. SMC based on loss of use of the left hand is also granted.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, finding no evidence of a current disability related to service.,The Board remanded the issues of service connection for right knee and back disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional VA and non-VA treatment records, as well as a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a pulmonary disability (to include asthma) and sleep apnea, and denied an initial rating higher than 10 percent for the right wrist disability.,Further development is needed to determine if there is any relationship between the Veteran's current respiratory and sleep disorders and his military service.