Wrist & hand decisions — 2022

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right upper extremity disability and TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran had a chronic right upper extremity disability in service or within one year of discharge, nor could it establish a link between any current right hand/wrist condition and service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist, right shoulder, left ring finger, right knee, and left knee disabilities have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a relationship between the claimed conditions and her active duty service.,Service records show recurrent urinary tract infections during her active duty but these resolved by 2010. The Veteran does not currently suffer from chronic UTIs.

The Board has dismissed all appeals seeking service connection for various disabilities as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and bilateral hand conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to September 29, 2011.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for plantar fasciitis, but the Veteran's right hip disability, left hip disability, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and left carpal tunnel syndrome claims are remanded for additional development.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's left wrist condition, finding that the disability does not present such an exceptional or unusual picture as to render impractical the application of the regular schedular standards.

The Board has granted service connection for right wrist arthritis and remanded the issues of a compensable rating for left foot disability and service connection for a left upper extremity disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including carcinoma of the urinary bladder and interstitial lung disease associated with Wegener's granulomatosis, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since February 13, 2014. Prior to that date, his disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining such employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left wrist and hand condition, as well as multiple sclerosis (MS), are remanded due to incomplete STRs. The Veteran contends that his conditions were related to service, but the Board affirms VA's duty to assist in obtaining relevant records. Further examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that his condition is not etiologically related to his active military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for neuropathy of the lower extremities, upper extremities (carpal tunnel syndrome), and a psychiatric disorder have been denied. The Board found no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and Graves' disease due to incomplete VA examinations. The Veteran is requested to provide information on all medical providers who have treated them, and a new examination will be scheduled to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral calcaneal spurs and PTSD were denied, while the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (adjustment disorder, mood disorder, and anxiety disorder) and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was remanded.,Service connection for bilateral calcaneal spurs and PTSD were not granted due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome are pending further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the previously denied claims.

The Board has granted service connection for malignant melanoma of the right wrist/forearm and any associated scars, finding that the Veteran's condition manifested within one year after discharge from active service.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for the Veteran's shoulder, back, and wrist disabilities are inadequate due to their age. The Board also notes that recent evidence indicates the Veteran's conditions have worsened. Therefore, the claims are being remanded for new evaluations.

The Board denied the claim for an earlier effective date prior to October 17, 2013, for service connection of degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the right wrist due to a lack of evidence showing that the Veteran submitted a valid claim before this date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hand carpal tunnel syndrome and right knee pain have been reopened. The Board has determined that there is new and material evidence to reopen the claims, but further examination and opinion are needed before a decision can be made on these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right wrist disorders due to conflicting evidence regarding the onset and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist and right foot disabilities have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.