Wrist & hand decisions — 2022

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted a 40 percent rating prior to March 22, 2022. The issues of service connection for sleep apnea, cervical spine disability, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and functional gastrointestinal disorder were all granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete examinations and failure to address critical evaluation criteria.

The Veteran's right ankle and right wrist disorders have been rated at the lowest available evaluation (10%) for the entire period on appeal. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on functional loss due to pain or instability.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder condition and a right wrist condition, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are at least as likely as not related to his in-service fall.

The Veteran's service connection claims for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right and left upper extremities, as well as his claim for a higher rating for sciatic nerve irritation of the left leg, have been granted. The issue of a higher rating for sciatic nerve irritation of the left leg is being remanded.

The Veteran's initial rating for migraine headaches has been granted at a 30 percent level. The Board has also remanded the issues regarding her wrist tendonitis with volar ganglion cyst.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right wrist disability, finding that it is not secondary to his service-connected residuals of fracture to the proximal fifth metacarpal of the left hand and concluding that there was no direct evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a right wrist disability and type II diabetes mellitus. The issues of service connection for diabetic nephropathy, a right leg disability, and a left leg disability are also being remanded due to their inextricability with the claim for DM II.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back, left wrist, right ankle, athlete's foot, and pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) conditions due to insufficient medical evidence to decide the claims. A VA examination is necessary in each case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right wrist disability, which existed prior to service and included a pre-existing cyst, was not aggravated by active duty service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's left wrist disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right wrist disorder.

The Veteran is granted an annual VA clothing allowance for 2013 due to a knee brace prescribed for his service-connected peripheral neuropathy.,The Veteran's hand braces do not cause wear and tear to his clothing, thus denying the claim for a clothing allowance in 2013.,No service-connected back disability or skin condition was found to warrant a clothing allowance for a back brace or topical creams. The claims are denied.,Entitlement is granted for use of ammonium lactate cream as it does not cause wear and tear on the Veteran's clothing.,The Veteran's use of menthol/methyl salicylate is not for a service-connected skin condition, thus denying the claim.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is being remanded for further evaluation due to worsening symptoms and the need for a more contemporaneous medical examination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, claimed as anxiety and depression, and for insomnia has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a right foot disability has been remanded due to the submission of new evidence since the March 2010 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right shoulder impingement syndrome, chronic left and right wrist sprains, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and lumbosacral strain due to inadequate examinations in November 2016. The Veteran is required to undergo updated VA examinations to assess the current severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for bilateral Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) are granted at 20 percent for the left CTS and 30 percent for the right CTS, effective from when they were initially rated.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthropathy of the hands (claimed as rheumatoid arthritis) is granted.,Effective May 1, 2012, the Veteran's claims for scars on his right upper and lower extremities and left lower extremity are granted.,Effective May 1, 2012, the Veteran's claim for service connection for right foot degenerative joint disease is granted.,Effective May 1, 2012, the Veteran's claim for service connection for left foot degenerative joint disease is granted.,Effective May 1, 2012, the Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder degenerative joint disease (status post rotator cuff and impingement surgery) is granted.,Effective May 1, 2012, the Veteran's claim for service connection for left shoulder degenerative joint disease (status post rotator cuff and impingement surgery) is granted.,The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of right carpal tunnel syndrome with median and lower radicular group involvement are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions and disabilities have been dismissed as the appellant has withdrawn all items on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the issues of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, left and right knee disabilities, low back disability, and right and left wrist disabilities.

The Board has determined that further examination and opinion are needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including her bilateral wrist disorders, cervical spine disorder, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, and dizziness. The case is being remanded for these purposes.