Wrist & hand decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for additional disability compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to VA medical care received in October 1990, including right wrist, lung or respiratory, heart attack, esophageal, and gallbladder disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the left wrist and chronic low back strain due to inadequate examination reports that did not address the Veteran's reported flare-ups.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The appeals are granted in part.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for left wrist, right knee, IBS, migraine headaches, vocal cord dysfunction, and right hip/wrist disabilities are inadequate. The Veteran's claims are being remanded to provide further development.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to the need for additional evidence, including private orthopedic treatment records and updated VA treatment records. The Veteran is also asked to complete a VA Form 21-8940 to provide information about his employment history.

The Board has found that new VA examinations are needed for the issues of entitlement to initial and compensable disability evaluations for service-connected painful scars, right wrist status post ganglion cyst excision associated with ganglion cyst, right wrist status post excision. The remanded exams will evaluate the current level of severity of these disabilities.

The Board has granted a temporary total rating based on the need for convalescence due to right wrist carpal tunnel surgery from July 1, 2016, through January 31, 2017.

The Veteran's right wrist sprain and left wrist strain have been rated as noncompensable since July 19, 2016. The Board has remanded these issues for further development.,The Veteran's right ankle collateral ligament sprain and left ankle collateral ligament sprain have also been rated as noncompensable since July 19, 2016. The Board has remanded these issues for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.,Reduction of compensation benefits to 10% due to incarceration is upheld.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to a lack of VA treatment records and the need for additional examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and a left wrist disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active duty service.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including dental condition, sinusitis, hand and wrist disabilities, foot conditions, lumbar spine condition, cervical spine condition. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed again due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left wrist carpal tunnel is secondary to her service-connected right wrist disabilities, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims for various conditions, including Parkinson's Disease and its secondary effects, as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any claimed conditions and finds no evidence to support service connection for these disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for increased ratings and service connection. The rating in excess of 20 percent for left foot disability remains denied, with the case being remanded.,Service connection is also being remanded for right wrist, bilateral shoulder, and right hip disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection because the benefits have already been granted in a previous rating decision.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU from March 12, 2018. The case is remanded for consideration of whether a TDIU can be awarded on an extraschedular basis prior to that date.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions and need for clarification of the Veteran's statements regarding in-service injuries. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a left hand condition, including severe osteoarthropathy, osteoarthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and trigger finger.