Wrist & hand decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and carpal tunnel syndrome were denied as there was no evidence of a relationship between the conditions and service. The Veteran's hip strains, knee instability, and osteoarthritis are also denied.

The Board has denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities, other than carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), as secondary to service-connected foot, knee, and back conditions and/or use of assistive devices. The Veteran's bilateral CTS was granted in a separate decision.

The Veteran's service-connected stiff-person syndrome and related conditions have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU prior to November 9, 2020. The issue of entitlement to an increased rating for SPS is remanded due to possible worsening of the condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, other than PTSD, do not preclude her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were incurred during his active duty service.

The Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and GERD have been granted service connection, with a 30 percent rating for GERD effective July 23, 2015.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of actinic keratosis, bilateral hand and wrist scars, and neck scars have been dismissed. The appeal seeking service connection for OSA is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for impingement syndrome of the left shoulder with slap tear and degenerative arthritis is dismissed. The right shoulder and right ankle conditions are granted service connection, but further examination is needed for other claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's left shoulder, back, migraine and tension headaches, cervical strain, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome have been granted service connection.,Further evaluations are needed for the Veteran's claimed bilateral arm disability other than carpal tunnel syndrome (including arthritis) and bilateral hip disability (including arthritis), as well as an initial rating higher than 20 percent for right shoulder A/C separation.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right wrist osteoarthritis and whether it is proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected left wrist disability.

The Veteran's status post ulnar nerve transposition with right carpal tunnel syndrome is granted a 70 percent disability rating.,An initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to April 22, 2022 is denied.,A disability rating in excess of 30 percent for the period from April 22, 2022 to May 25, 2022 for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,A disability rating in excess of 70 percent from May 25, 2022 for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to April 22, 2022, resulting in a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board denied entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral ear infections were denied. The Veteran's right and left upper extremity carpal tunnel disabilities are each granted a higher rating.,The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for an increased rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding treatment records and requests for additional information. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee patellar tendon repair condition is still pending.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration of new evidence. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Veteran's service connection claims for memory loss, heart condition, TBI residuals, and various nerve conditions have been granted. The remaining issues of service connection for upper extremity nerves and peripheral neuropathy are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the Veteran's symptoms had their onset in service and are related to his active duty.

The Board has previously remanded the issues of service connection for right and left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome. The Veteran's claim is being remanded again due to unclear status regarding whether service connection was awarded for both conditions, which would represent a full grant of benefits sought on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting opinions from a previous examiner and requests for clarification.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the statutory criteria for SMC based on housebound status. However, he may still qualify for SMC on a facts-found basis if his service-connected disabilities render him permanently housebound or in need of aid and attendance.