Wrist & hand decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a right shoulder disorder, low back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. The Veteran's claims were not supported by medical evidence linking the disorders to service.

Service connection is granted for right ankle osteoarthritis. The case is remanded to determine the nature and etiology of any right wrist disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection of various hand and wrist disabilities, as well as a left foot disability. The case will be returned to the Appeals Management Center (AMC) for further action.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for psoriatic arthritis of his bilateral wrists and ankles due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding the etiology of these conditions. The Veteran reported multiple injuries during service, including broken arms, which he believes may have contributed to his current condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development, specifically failing to reschedule a VA examination as required by duty to assist. The Veteran's right wrist disability is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for left knee patellofemoral syndrome with arthritis of the left knee and his claim for service connection for pruritis have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin rash of the scrotum has been reopened, but not granted. The evidence received since the November 2006 rating decision relates to an unestablished fact necessary to establish the claim (a diagnosis of a skin rash and reports of treatment for the same in service and since that time).,The Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained during his active service.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, psychiatric disorder (alcohol use disorder/unspecified depressive disorder), right shoulder disability, left elbow disability, right wrist disability, left ankle disability, allergies/rhinitis, persistent diarrhea, and migraine headaches are all remanded for further development as specified in the decision.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist disorder, left wrist disorder, skin disorder, and IBS due to incomplete STRs and lack of confirmation of Southwest Asia service. A VA examination is required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right wrist, left wrist, cervical spine, and lower extremity neuropathy, are not supported by evidence of record. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to higher disability ratings for her service-connected left wrist fracture and initial compensable rating for her service-connected left wrist scar due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for further action regarding his claim of entitlement to a TDIU. The Board finds that the evidence does not show he meets the schedular criteria for assignment of a TDIU, including on the basis of disabilities affecting a single body system (orthopedic), during the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed as he withdrew his claims. The Board has also remanded several issues including low back, right knee, left knee, cervical spine, OSA, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeals for the left eye, right wrist, right foot, and left foot conditions. The remaining issues of service connection for left elbow disability, right knee disability, and left ankle disability are remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disability, scoliosis of thoracic spine, residuals of left wrist injury, and allergies. The appeals are remanded to determine if these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral wrist disability and right knee disability due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran contends that his current conditions are related to service, particularly from injuries sustained while loading munitions onto aircraft in December 1981.

The appeal for service connection of a left wrist radiocarpal degenerative disorder is dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic otitis media, right wrist strain, and eye condition due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for additional examinations.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the issues of effective date, disability rating, and TDIU. The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder dislocation with rotator cuff tear remains on appeal.

The Board has remanded both issues of entitlement to service connection for a right hand condition and entitlement to TDIU prior to November 29, 2012 due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his employment as a chaplain/civil servant with the U.S. Army, and he has not provided sufficient information regarding his current employment status.

The Board denied service connection for various knee, shoulder, wrist, and hand disorders, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and service.