Wrist & hand decisions — 2022

The Veteran's back condition is granted service connection, but his left hand arthritis, bilateral elbow degenerative arthritis, right hand arthritis, and right carpal tunnel syndrome are denied.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disability rating is 40 percent, which does not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU. The evidence does not support that his service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating issues due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination. The claims include bilateral hearing loss, TBI residuals, wrist disabilities, headaches, vertigo, sleep apnea, and adjustment disorder.

The Veteran's bilateral wrist disability alone has rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, qualifying for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for the entire appeal period.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right wrist arthritis was caused or aggravated by his service-connected left hand/forearm disabilities. The claim will be reviewed with a new opinion from an orthopedic expert.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's joint disabilities, specifically right knee pain, elbow pain, shoulder pain, plantar fasciitis, and left wrist pain. The VA examiner was asked to provide opinions on whether these conditions are related to service or aggravated by service-connected disabilities.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the prior remand directives and has ordered another remand for an addendum opinion from the September 2015 VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology and secondary service connection of the Veteran's left wrist disability. The VA examiner is requested to provide a new opinion addressing these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU on an extraschedular basis from February 2, 2017.

The Veteran's temporary total disability rating for residuals of a right wrist fracture with osteochondrosis from November 29, 2015 to December 29, 2015 is granted. The claims of entitlement to an increased rating and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to constipation, and the right wrist scars were not painful or unstable. The TDIU claim was remanded due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's employment status.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, left upper extremity radiculopathy with carpal tunnel syndrome, right upper extremity radiculopathy with carpal tunnel syndrome, left hand carpal tunnel syndrome, and right hand carpal tunnel syndrome are all denied. The Board found no evidence to support a nexus between the Veteran's current conditions and his service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and cervical spine disability, finding that there was not sufficient evidence to establish a link between these conditions and his active-duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cyst of the mouth and a right wrist sprain, finding that these conditions are not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. The Veteran's left wrist and elbow disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found no current disabilities or evidence of in-service injuries, events, or diseases that would support the claims.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for PTSD as there is no credible supporting evidence that an in-service stressor occurred. For her right hip, back, and wrist disabilities, additional medical opinions are needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has dismissed the claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for the left ankle scar, left wrist scar, left ankle disability, and left knee disability. The cases are being remanded for further evaluation of the Veteran's left knee, left wrist, and left ankle disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal disabilities, including hip, ankle, foot, and back conditions. The appeals are being returned to the AOJ for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for dental trauma, degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine with radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and degenerative arthritis of the right hand and wrist have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen these claims.,Service connection for arthritis of the bilateral shoulders is denied due to lack of in-service or post-service medical evidence linking the condition to service.