Wrist & hand decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claim for TDIU from January 1, 2016 to August 1, 2018 is remanded due to the need for additional information regarding her employment status during that period.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the June 2019 remand directives and requires new VA medical opinions for service connection claims related to bilateral arm conditions and plantar fasciitis.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the merits of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left wrist arthritis is at least as likely as not related to service, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left wrist tendonitis, left thigh weakness and atrophy, right thigh weakness and atrophy, and bilateral hearing loss due to outstanding private treatment records and a need for new medical opinions.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a 20% rating for lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, and the Veteran's claims for service connection of right wrist tendonitis and genitourinary condition as secondary to his low back disability were not addressed due to insufficient medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right ear, right wrist, and left wrist conditions due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot, ankle, knee, hip, elbow, shoulder, and low back disabilities. The appeal is being remanded due to inadequate or incomplete previous examinations.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis in upper extremities, and osteoarthritis in lower extremities due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for residuals of fracture of the right hand, claimed as right wrist fracture was denied by the Board. The highest available rating for painful motion of the wrist without ankylosis is 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right wrist disorder, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis, is at least as likely as not related to his active service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's left wrist disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right wrist disorder, left wrist disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's stroke residuals.

The Board has granted service connection for benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and remanded the issues of service connection for left wrist disability and left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's BPH is found to have started during active duty, while his left wrist and left ear hearing loss are not considered disabling under VA criteria.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a left wrist ganglion cyst and denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee strain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to a separate 10 percent rating for right thumb arthritis as a residual of his service-connected right wrist fracture. However, further examination is needed to determine if he is eligible for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran is seeking TDIU and SMC based on her service-connected disabilities, which will be addressed upon completion of the requested development.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for various service-connected conditions was dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding PTSD, and denied all other issues due to lack of evidence supporting higher ratings.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including OSA, Chiari I malformation with cervical syrinx, cervical DDD, bilateral knee disabilities, right elbow disability, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left wrist disability, and bilateral shoulder disabilities. The decision found that the Veteran's current diagnoses were not incurred in service or related to his service-connected bronchial asthma.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a left wrist disability, finding no evidence of additional disability caused by VA treatment.