Wrist & hand decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed. The Board has granted a 10% rating for the back and right wrist scars from January 22, 2018 onwards.

The Veteran's initial and increased ratings for a left wrist disorder are granted, with the effective date being from September 4, 2012 to January 22, 2020, and from February 26, 2020 and continuing thereafter.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his neurological disorders, bilateral dry eye syndrome, and carpal tunnel syndrome. The issues are related to in-service boxing, rigors of in-service job duties, and January to May 1991 pertinent elbow treatment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting medical opinions and incomplete information regarding his periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA. The AOJ must obtain updated treatment records, personnel files, and pay stubs; clarify the dates of each period of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA; and seek VA opinions to determine etiology and date(s) of onset for hypertension and any neurological disability affecting his extremities.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder and bilateral hearing loss are remanded for additional medical opinions. The lumbosacral strain, left lung spontaneous pneumothorax, narcolepsy, and right wrist fracture status post fusion of the carpal bones require new examinations to determine their current levels of severity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding no evidence of their onset during or immediately after service.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective January 3, 2011. The issues of increased ratings for the thoracolumbar spine and left lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to incomplete VA records and inadequate examinations. The issues include right wrist condition, back condition, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and sciatic nerve radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the right shoulder was reopened and granted. The Board found that his current right shoulder degenerative arthritis had its onset during active service, granting service connection for this condition. Other claims were remanded due to outstanding medical records.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and lumbar spine disabilities, as these conditions have already been granted in a prior rating decision. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left wrist disability is denied due to lack of evidence showing it began during service or was related to an in-service injury. The Board has also dismissed the Veteran's claim for total disability due to individual unemployability prior to March 15, 2017.

The Veteran's GERD with duodenitis, chronic strain and DJD of the left shoulder, left wrist scaphoid fracture ORIF with residuals, DJD and DDD of the cervical spine, DDD of the lumbosacral spine, onychomycosis (fungus infection of the feet), and hypertension have all been denied.,The Veteran's disability ratings for GERD with duodenitis, chronic strain and DJD of the left shoulder, left wrist scaphoid fracture ORIF with residuals, DJD and DDD of the cervical spine, DDD of the lumbosacral spine, onychomycosis (fungus infection of the feet), and hypertension have all been denied.,The Veteran's disability ratings for GERD with duodenitis, chronic strain and DJD of the left shoulder, left wrist scaphoid fracture ORIF with residuals, DJD and DDD of the cervical spine, DDD of the lumbosacral spine, onychomycosis (fungus infection of the feet), and hypertension have all been denied.

The Veteran's right wrist disability, characterized by painful and limited motion without ankylosis, is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5215. The Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development and medical opinions due to incomplete records and inadequate previous opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety disorder was reopened and granted. The claims for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist, right wrist, arthritis of the entire body, tinnitus, and hypertension were all denied.,A new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss condition is related to her military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and reopening of previously denied claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a VA examination. The issues include whether her neck disability is secondary to her service-connected low back disability and/or right lower extremity disability.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder was initially denied, but granted after June 25, 2018 and October 3, 2019.,For the periods prior to June 25, 2018 and from October 3, 2019, an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate VA opinions and insufficient evidence. The Veteran's reports of in-service injuries and post-service symptoms will be considered.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective January 18, 2013, based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder, bilateral wrist, and bilateral knee disorders due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran testified that his symptoms began during active duty service.