Wrist & hand decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hand numbness, chronic right ankle pain, and chronic right wrist pain due to a duty-to-assist error regarding the specific dates of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) or Inactive Duty for Training (INACDUTRA).

The Veteran's appeal for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant was denied as he does not meet the eligibility criteria due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claim for a right wrist disability due to incomplete service treatment records from the most recent period of active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and failure to address the Veteran's contentions regarding his right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, tarsal coalition, hallux valgus, right foot disability, and tarsal coalition, hallux valgus, left foot disability due to inadequate opinions in the July 2020 VA examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a right wrist condition before the Board made a decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left wrist condition, finding that there was no evidence of chronic left wrist arthritis or Kienbock's disease in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The preponderance of the evidence did not establish a nexus between any left wrist condition and any incident of service.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, as he retired due to a post-service injury. Therefore, a TDIU rating was denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, right upper extremity disability, left upper extremity disability, right lower extremity disability, and left lower extremity disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities, as well as his bilateral wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, are being remanded for further examination to determine the current severity of these conditions. The Veteran also seeks service connection for hip disabilities secondary to his knees.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examination reports and failure to obtain relevant medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to determine the nature and etiology of her sleep apnea, right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, and cervical spine disability. The rating reduction from 10 percent to noncompensable for left lower extremity radiculopathy was improper.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right wrist synovitis and fractures of the 2nd metacarpal of the right hand are being remanded due to inadequate medical examination in the previous rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed as she has withdrawn her appeals regarding these conditions.

The Board has dismissed all claims for service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's right wrist and cervical spine disabilities have been remanded for further development as the Board found that additional evidence is needed to determine if higher ratings are warranted.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been granted. The claims for right wrist condition, left wrist condition, and bilateral toe fungus are remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for right elbow, left elbow, right wrist, and left wrist disabilities due to a lack of meaningful examination opinions addressing the Veteran's lay statements regarding the onset of symptoms. The AOJ is instructed to obtain VA treatment records and any SSA disability benefits records, schedule new examinations with appropriate examiners, and provide the Veteran with proper notification.

The Board has found pre-decisional duty to assist errors for all the claims on appeal, including the increased rating claim for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) with cervical radiculopathy of the left. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not result in loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands or feet.

The Board has decided the service connection for sinusitis, but remanded the claims for residuals of traumatic brain injuries and right wrist/hand conditions due to insufficient evidence.