Wrist & hand decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient clarification of the medical evidence regarding the Veteran's service-connected right wrist disability, including his symptoms and diagnoses in the right hand and fingers.

The Veteran's request to reopen claims for service connection of various conditions has been granted. The Board finds that the Veteran now meets the criteria for service connection for a right knee strain.,Additional development is needed due to the Veteran's complaints of worsening symptoms and lack of recent VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for various wrist, hip, leg, foot, and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The claims were based on the Veteran's reported injury during boot camp in 1983.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, left shoulder arthritis, diabetes mellitus, and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment since February 22, 2016. The Board finds that the combined effect of these disabilities has precluded his ability to work.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability has been reopened and granted. Service connection is also granted for right carpal tunnel syndrome, but the increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the right hand remains denied. The claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to PTSD, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) secondary to PTSD, and tinnitus are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and reopening of service connection due to new evidence added to the record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the failure to report for VA examinations. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome and sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence in some areas.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the nature and etiology of his bilateral foot, wrist, and hand disabilities. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for arthritis of the hips, legs, and knees was granted. The issues of service connection for other joints were also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disorder, bilateral eye pterygium, and left wrist disorder were denied. The Veteran's claim for right arm disorder was remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and left wrist conditions due to inadequate compliance with prior remand directives.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis and bilateral heel spurs are denied as the evidence does not support a connection to service.,Service connection for plantar fasciitis is denied due to lack of current diagnosis. The Veteran's heel spurs are found not connected to any period of service.,GERD is remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding its onset and relationship to service.,Right wrist condition is remanded as the VA records do not support a connection to service, despite the Veteran's testimony and history.,Lumbar spine condition is remanded due to lack of sufficient medical evidence connecting it to service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for postherpetic neuralgia of the 9th cranial nerve involving the right ear was granted with a 10 percent evaluation effective August 13, 2020. The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate pre-decisional duty to assist errors in the previous rating decisions. The Veteran's claims for carpal tunnel syndrome and PTSD are being reviewed again.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities due to incomplete service treatment records. The VA must conduct additional searches for these records and provide a response in writing if they are found to be unavailable.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various joint disabilities have been remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions.,The Veteran has multiple unresolved claims related to his military service, including those involving his shoulders, back, hips, elbows, hands, wrists, and knees.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for depression, left foot disability, and bilateral hand disability has been granted.,New evidence shows that the Veteran experienced pain in her hands which can constitute a disability. Her claim of service connection for bilateral hand disability is reopened.

The Veteran's initial rating for right wrist disability was denied, and the Board has remanded his claims for left hand and thumb disabilities due to insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran is also seeking a higher rating for his left ring finger condition.