Wrist & hand decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examination reports and new evidence may be needed. The Veteran is seeking service connection for left wrist, right knee, and headache disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for clothing allowances related to bilateral wrist and thumb braces, bilateral knee braces, and ammonium lactate topical medication were granted. The claim for shoe inserts was denied as they do not qualify as outer garments for which a clothing allowance may be paid.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type II, left eye cataract, heart disorder, peripheral vascular disease (including decreased circulation and left leg splint and shunt in left groin), right hand disability (including carpal tunnel syndrome and neuropathy), and left hand disability (including neuropathy) due to the need for additional opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions. The presumptive exposure basis is based on service in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations, which applies to Persian Gulf veterans.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral pes planus, left and right wrist disorders, heart murmur, appendectomy residuals, ovarian mass, sinusitis, right foot paresthesias, and left foot paresthesias have all been denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence of a relationship to active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome and thyroid disorder (hypothyroidism) has been dismissed without prejudice. The Veteran withdrew her claims for these conditions during a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including skin disabilities, lumbosacral spine disability, shoulder and wrist disabilities, and obstructive sleep apnea. The reasons for remand include the need for further medical examinations and evaluations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient rationale in the VA examination opinions and the need for additional medical records.

The Veteran's right-hand carpal tunnel syndrome is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher rating of 30 percent should be granted from March 4, 2017 to November 9, 2021.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability and left wrist and hand disability due to inadequate development. A new medical opinion is needed to address whether her current disabilities are related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hand disorders due to potential issues with obtaining his non-VA treatment records and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to issue an SOC on the increased rating for right wrist disability, and the Veteran was not provided with information about her hearing rights.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted. The Veteran's left foot disability was remanded for additional development due to concerns about involvement of the peroneal nerve.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, memory loss and concentration problems, is related to his active-duty service.,There is no persuasive evidence of a current bilateral wrist disability in the record.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetic nephropathy and kidney transplant, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for a left wrist disability due to additional evidence being submitted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that it is related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Board finds that his combined disability picture does not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disability, left wrist disability, and right wrist disability due to secondary service-connected conditions. The claims will be reviewed with a focus on whether these disabilities are related to his military service or other service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, left hip disability (trochanteric pain syndrome), cervical spine disability, right wrist disability, and left and right ankle sprains are all granted service connection.,There is no effective date assigned for any of the conditions as they were found to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for new evaluations of the Veteran's cervical strain, right knee flexion, and right wrist synovitis conditions.

The Board has determined that the VA did not comply with its prior remand instructions and thus the appeal must be remanded again to obtain adequate medical opinions on the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand disabilities.