Wrist & hand decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for lower back pain and associated scars, left CTS, and right CTS. The Veteran's current conditions are already covered by the existing service-connected scar and shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's right and left shoulder conditions are remanded due to inadequate etiology opinions.,The Veteran's right and left wrist conditions are remanded due to inadequate etiology opinions.,The Veteran's left knee condition is remanded due to inadequate etiology opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle tendonitis, right ankle tendonitis, status post excision of ganglion cyst of the left foot, and degenerative joint disease of the right wrist. The claims were reopened due to new and material evidence received since the March 2008 denial.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for painful scars was granted, with the effective date being January 31, 2022. The claims for service connection for left shin splints and increased ratings for anterior trunk scars, including scars status-post cesarian section, abdominoplasty, and bilateral breast reduction; scars of the back, left shoulder, and left elbow status-post excision; and scar of the right wrist status post excision of ganglion cyst were all granted. The claim for a compensable rating for scars status-post fibromyositis of the left ankle was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for wrist joint pain, bilateral upper and lower extremity cold injuries, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome are denied. However, the Veteran is granted service connection for her now service-connected bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a dental implant and a left wrist scar are remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records, private treatment records, and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left wrist strain and right wrist strain were denied. The appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for thoracolumbar strain is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cause of death and denied his application for VA survivor's pension due to insufficient evidence showing a causal link between his service-connected conditions and his death, as well as his income exceeding the maximum annual pension rate.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and failure to address whether the Veteran's disability manifested within one year of discharge from service. The Veteran is presumed sound at entry into service, but his entrance examination was silent as to any bilateral hand condition or disability.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for various conditions allegedly resulting from VA treatment, finding no fault on the part of VA.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating issues have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment since April 16, 2019.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for various conditions, including right elbow strain, right wrist strain, bilateral hearing loss, chronic bronchitis, right hip pain, and sinusitis. The claims were also dismissed for left elbow lateral epicondylitis, a rating greater than 20 percent for a right shoulder disability, an effective date earlier than September 1, 2018, for the grant of a 20 percent rating for a right shoulder disability, and an initial compensable rating for surgical scars, right shoulder. The Board also dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and low back disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating for his left ear hearing loss, left knee disability, right knee limitation of extension, or right knee meniscal tear. The Veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for right wrist ganglion cyst.

The Veteran's TDIU and SMC claims for migraine headaches are granted, with the effective date being December 1, 2016. The Veteran is now eligible for both benefits due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral neuropathy of the upper extremities, including as secondary to military environmental exposure and service-connected diabetes mellitus type II (DM II), due to a lack of evidence showing that his condition was incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's right wrist fracture is granted service connection as being proximately due to his service-connected bilateral knee disability. The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for neuropathy of the right wrist, as secondary to his service-connected right wrist tendonitis, is being remanded due to an inadequate VA medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete opinions and need for additional development. The issues include psychiatric disorders, obstructive sleep apnea, hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, Parkinson's disease, carpal tunnel syndrome, and peripheral neuropathy.