Wrist & hand decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional service treatment records.

The VA Form 9 submitted on June 20, 2017 was not timely filed and the appeal is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hand disability, including trigger fingers and carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or aggravation. The Veteran did not provide any lay testimony or other evidence to support his claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus the TDIU claim is denied.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 20% disability rating for his right wrist disability. The claim of entitlement to a higher rating is remanded due to new evidence indicating possible malunion or non-union of the ulna, which could warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome and internal derangement of left shoulder, as well as his claim for TDIU prior to October 2, 2019. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical records and undergo further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an addendum VA opinion regarding service connection and aggravation of hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection due to potential aggravation of his conditions by his service-connected disabilities and exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right carpal tunnel syndrome due to a lack of medical documentation in-service, requiring further development including obtaining an addendum opinion from a clinician.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for a scar on the left arm was granted. A rating of 70 percent was assigned for residuals of crush injuries to the left arm, characterized as damage to muscle groups V and VI, damage to the brachial artery, and damage to the median, ulnar, and radial nerves. The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for a left shoulder disability prior to July 8, 2014 was denied. Since July 8, 2014, a rating of 30 percent has been granted for the left shoulder disability. The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for a left wrist disability is denied.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations were not conducted as per the July 2017 remand instructions and thus, the case is being returned to the AOJ for further development. The issues of service connection for various conditions are now pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hand and wrist strains and entitlement to a TDIU prior to August 2, 2018. The evidence did not support finding that his current disorders were related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The residual scars previously scars, removal of swollen lymph nodes are not rated as compensable. The chronic headaches prior to January 24, 2020 and the relapse fever (previously fever, night sweats) prior to January 24, 2020 are each granted a 10 percent rating. The carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand prior to January 24, 2020 is granted a 10 percent rating and the carpal tunnel syndrome of the left hand prior to January 24, 2020 is denied higher than a 10 percent rating. Multiple joint pain prior to January 24, 2020 is not rated as higher than 10 percent. The idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis prior to January 24, 2020 is also not rated as higher than 30 percent.

The claims for left wrist ganglion cyst and skin condition (claimed as acne) have been denied because the evidence does not establish a connection to service.,Tinnitus was granted, with no indication of noise exposure during service. The appellant's testimony regarding tinnitus is considered less credible due to its remote onset in service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, right wrist sprain, cervical spine disability, and left ankle disabilities. The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left hip disability is granted.

The Veteran's right wrist tendonitis is rated at 10 percent, but the Board denied an increased rating. The claims for service connection of her right and left knee disabilities were also denied as there was no evidence that these conditions began in service or are related to service.

The Board denied an initial rating higher than 10 percent for right wrist disability since October 21, 2016.,The Board also denied an initial rating higher than 10 percent for post-operative residuals of right forearm/elbow disability since October 21, 2016.

The Veteran's service connection claim for right hand weakness (Carpal tunnel syndrome) is denied, and his increased rating claim for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) as it did not have onset in service or within one year of discharge, and is unrelated to any aspect of service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and separate evaluations were denied. The left wrist strain and scars are rated at 10 percent, while the left knee strain is rated at 10 percent with a separate rating of 10 percent for painful motion.