Wrist & hand decisions — 2022

The claims for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and gout are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claims.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his left wrist disability is dismissed. The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee arthritis is granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to pending service connection claims. The AOJ must obtain and associate the Veteran's medical records from non-VA providers as part of the Veterans Choice Program with his claims file, including those related to physical therapy appointments.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to theories of secondary service connection and incremental increase in severity.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing right wrist disability was not aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board dismissed the appeals for a higher rating in excess of 10 percent for esophagitis with Barrett's esophagus and hiatal hernia, service connection for diverticulitis, generalized arthritis, bilateral upper extremities CTS, and service connection for left Achilles tendon condition. Service connection was granted for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with dextroscoliosis and residuals of a left Achilles tendon rupture.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his residual scar of the right wrist, secondary to ganglion cyst removal is denied.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right wrist strain status post ganglion cyst removal is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to August 12, 2008, for service connection for fibromyalgia and his claim of entitlement to a left shoulder disability have been dismissed.,The Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome has been granted service connection. The Veteran is also entitled to a rating of 40 percent for fibromyalgia and a rating of 70 percent for major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine was reopened and granted. Service connection is also granted for left ear hearing loss.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied, as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board has determined that there may be outstanding relevant treatment and personnel records from the Veteran's period of service and thereafter, and therefore remanded for further action.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding increased ratings for several disabilities and service connection claims, including for headaches, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, a left knee condition, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of September 8, 1998, for a 50% rating for right wrist fracture residuals was granted. The Board found that the symptoms approximated unfavorable ankylosis in radial deviation since the September 8, 1998, claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and carpal tunnel syndrome were denied, while a 40% rating was granted for fibromyalgia. The claim for TDIU prior to July 24, 2014 is also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional medical opinions regarding his claimed disabilities, as the current opinions are inadequate.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on several service-connected disabilities have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the cases of right knee patellofemoral syndrome, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right ankle sprain for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for new VA examinations and additional medical records.

The Board denied service connection for various knee, wrist, ankle, and lumbosacral disabilities. Service connection was granted for eczema and bilateral eye keratoconus. Migraine headaches were presumed to be incurred in service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability and remanded other issues due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his right elbow, wrist, and shoulder disabilities. The issues of entitlement to a higher rating for the right elbow disability, as well as service connection for the right wrist and shoulder disabilities, are being remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome, right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, and left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome have been granted increased ratings of 20% for the right knee condition and 30% for each wrist condition.