Wrist & hand decisions — 2021

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 29, 2008 for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not show that he was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due solely to his service-connected conditions during this period.

The Board denied compensation for right wrist tendonitis and left shoulder rotator cuff tear, finding that the disabilities were not caused by VA medical care.

The Board has dismissed the issue of whether new and material evidence was received to reopen a claim for service connection for sleep apnea. The claims for shin splints, right ankle, left ankle, right wrist, left wrist, right shoulder, and low back disabilities have been reopened due to receipt of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right wrist disabilities due to insufficient examination findings, including failure to address functional impairment. A new VA examination is required.

The Board has identified new evidence and is remanding the case for readjudication by the RO in light of this additional information.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received, but service connection for upper extremity peripheral neuropathy and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is still denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate reasons and bases, inconsistent findings with the record, and lack of discussion regarding functional impairment. The case is returned to the Board for further review.

The Veteran's right elbow scar is granted service connection. The Board also found that the Veteran has a current lumbar spine disorder, but did not determine if it was related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding his injury during service and the in-service treatment for a left wrist disorder. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Board denied increased ratings for postoperative carpal tunnel syndrome of the left and right hands, as well as pes planus. The Veteran's conditions are deemed to be service-connected based on direct evidence.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's death, and no jurisdiction remains for the merits of the claims.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for right wrist strain, status post carpal tunnel release was denied. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet criteria for a higher than 30 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis and denied service connection for right wrist disability. The case is remanded to assign a disability rating and effective date, as well as to consider the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is rated at 50 percent, the maximum allowed.,Right and left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome are both rated at their respective maximums of 30% and 20%, respectively.,Cervical spine degenerative disc disease is rated at 10%. The Veteran's lumbar strain has been granted staged ratings, with a 10% rating from September 21, 2003 to September 16, 2019 and a 20% rating thereafter.,The Veteran’s claims for higher initial ratings are denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and remanded the issue of service connection for prostate cancer due to exposure to herbicide agents or ionizing radiation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and secondary service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome and a rating in excess of 10% for his right ankle disability due to insufficient examination reports.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU were denied due to his failure to report for necessary VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has restored service connection for a cervical spine disability. Service connection was denied for left hand and wrist, left shin splints, right shin splints, left ankle, right ankle, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left wrist osteoarthritis and tendonitis, finding that the evidence supports a link between these conditions and service.