Wrist & hand decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete certification of her service treatment records and need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions obtained on remand are inadequate and requires further examination or opinion to address the Veteran's claimed disabilities, their onset during service, and any relationship to his service. The case is therefore being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his right knee degenerative arthritis was denied as the evidence did not show limitation of motion that would warrant a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for shortening of the right leg secondary to his service-connected right knee disability was also denied, as there is no compensable rating available under VA regulations.

The Veteran's SMC claim for regular aid and attendance is granted. The automobile allowance claim is denied due to the absence of permanent loss of use of one or both feet, severe burn injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ankylosis of knees or hips in his service-connected disabilities. The TDIU claim before July 17, 2002, is remanded for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete service treatment records and personnel records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including high cholesterol, back problems, gout of the ankles, sinusitis, acid reflux, carpal tunnel syndrome of the wrists, and hypertension.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome is caused or aggravated by his service-connected fracture of the right forearm.

The Veteran's left foot disability due to an undiagnosed illness is granted, and he receives a 10% rating for his service-connected left wrist fracture. His initial compensable rating for anemia remains unchanged.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to June 17, 2010 was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.,On August 13, 2015, the Veteran's TDIU claim from that date forward was also denied because none of his service-connected conditions (other than adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood) on their own or collectively met the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his right thumb arthritis and right wrist disability, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since February 6, 2009.

The Board has granted service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome, but the issue of service connection for a left upper extremity disorder other than carpal tunnel syndrome and left navicular bone fracture residuals with DJD is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran regarding his jump status while in service. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether these disabilities are at least as likely as not related to this in-service jump status.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various peripheral neuropathies and hypertension due to incomplete development of evidence. The Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are all being reviewed as direct service connection claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain VA treatment records and for an addendum medical opinion regarding his sleep apnea. The TDIU claim will be considered again as part of the increased PTSD rating claim.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder is granted with a rating of 70 percent effective June 7, 2016.,Headache syndrome is granted with a 50 percent rating effective November 9, 2016.

The Veteran's cervical strain disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the extent and severity of her service-connected condition, including any additional diagnoses. The examiner must provide an opinion on whether these additional diagnoses are related to the service-connected cervical strain.,A new VA examination is needed to address whether the Veteran’s RUE disabilities (other than cervical radiculopathy) are secondary to her service-connected right shoulder and cervical spine disabilities or if they have a separate etiology. The examiner must differentiate between symptoms attributable to the service-connected condition and those attributable to nonservice-connected conditions.,The Veteran's asthma is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine whether it was caused by environmental exposures during Desert Storm/Shield, aggravated by her service-connected allergic rhinitis, or has a separate etiology. The examiner must provide an opinion on the relationship between these factors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist, right wrist, and right hand conditions have been denied as there is no evidence of current diagnoses or a link to service.,The claim for an increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder has also been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, as his income has exceeded the poverty threshold level throughout the appeal period.

The Board has denied service connection for a right pinky finger disability and a mental health disability (to include anxiety). The Veteran's left thumb and left wrist disabilities are remanded for further development.,Service connection is not granted for the Veteran's claimed conditions as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to active duty.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of ankylosis.