Wrist & hand decisions — 2022

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various psoriatic arthritis conditions, but has remanded these issues due to additional development being necessary.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for psoriatic arthritis is being remanded as there are still unresolved questions regarding whether his current conditions are related to his pre-existing psoriasis and left-hand psoriatic arthritis.

The Veteran's stepson, L.B., is recognized as a helpless child due to his cerebral palsy.,Service connection for left knee arthritis and swollen lips (claimed as hives) are granted based on in-service burn pit exposure.

The Board has remanded several service connection and rating claims due to the need for additional medical opinions, treatment records, and consideration of the Veteran's testimony.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, TBI, thoracolumbar spine disability, gastrointestinal disorder, CTS, and OSA. The Veteran's claims were not adjudicated on the basis of service connection.

The Board has determined that the VA opinions obtained are inadequate and requires new opinions to address the etiology of the Veteran's right hand symptoms, including numbness. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his right wrist osteoarthritis and tendonitis, and for issuance of an SOC regarding service connection for arthritis of the right elbow as secondary to his right wrist disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and conflicting opinions. The Veteran's right hand surgeries are being reviewed for potential compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for an increased disability rating for isolated systolic hypertension. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left upper extremity disability is remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA did not substantially comply with its previous remand instructions regarding obtaining missing service treatment records and scheduling VA medical opinions. The appeal is being returned to the AOJ for these actions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate VA examinations and a lack of updated imaging for the Veteran's left wrist fracture residuals and left achilles tendon rupture. Updated medical opinions are needed.

The Board has remanded the claim for further development due to conflicting opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right wrist disability is related to his service-connected left wrist disability or if it developed independently.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's post-operative residuals from left wrist/hand cyst removal, including a scar, are related to his active duty service and grants this claim.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability with associated left and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The cases of the left wrist disability, to include radial, carpal, and cubital tunnel syndrome, and right ear hearing loss are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his left and right hamstring strains, as well as service connection for a left wrist disorder, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher schedular ratings for the hamstrings or establish a current diagnosis of a left wrist disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left wrist degenerative joint disease, limited grip strength and intermittent numbness of the fingers, as due to degenerative joint disease, and TDIU. The VA will schedule the Veteran for appropriate examinations to determine his current functional loss and provide a retrospective opinion regarding functional loss since October 4, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a sleep disorder and headaches has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, to include PTSD, have been granted as they are related to a verified in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence in the record.,Specifically, the Board requested addendum opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his right hand skin disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for bilateral upper extremity conditions are being remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to September 8, 2011.,The Veteran does not meet the criteria for SMC based on TDIU since he is not unemployable due to a single service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further review due to new evidence received after the February 28, 2018 SOC. The issues include service connection for eczema and a right wrist ganglion cyst, as well as increased ratings for various knee and ankle conditions.