Wrist & hand decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches and knee conditions, make it impossible for her to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board dismissed all appeals related to service connection for various disabilities and requests for earlier effective dates, disability ratings, and special monthly compensation. The Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's right wrist fracture is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that there are functional limitations not accounted for by this rating. The case is being remanded to obtain clarification from an examiner regarding whether these limitations constitute ankylosis.

The Board has determined that the VA remand instructions were not followed and thus, the claims for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for degenerative joint disease, right wrist was denied. A rating of 40 percent was granted from January 20, 2020 due to ankylosis. The appeal for a higher rating than 40 percent is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a left wrist condition has been granted. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his status post fracture distal radius and ulna, left wrist disability. The evidence did not show findings of ankylosis or other conditions that would warrant higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left elbow disability, right wrist disability, and psychiatric disability (including depressive disorder and anxiety disorder) due to new evidence and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left carpal tunnel syndrome was aggravated by his service-connected evulsion fracture proximal phalanx of 5th digit of the left hand.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left wrist CTS due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives. A new VA medical opinion is needed as the current one did not consider all relevant evidence, including in-service treatment records.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims for various conditions. The Veteran's hearing loss claim is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss by VA standards.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal disorders, including right shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee, ankle, and foot conditions. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a causal link to service.

The Veteran's neck condition is remanded for a new VA opinion to determine if it is related to service, specifically the in-service motor vehicle accident.,The Veteran's low back condition is remanded for a new VA opinion to determine if it is related to service and whether any pre-existing conditions worsened during service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and bilateral wrist tendonitis have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of July 1, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right wrist condition is not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a right wrist injury during active duty and the condition is more likely related to an injury in 2000.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right knee disability, neck disability, bilateral shoulder condition, and nerve disability affecting the right upper extremity due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the ratings for bilateral wrist disabilities and the compensable rating for a right wrist scar.

The Veteran's claims for erectile dysfunction, right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, and a right shoulder disability (other than radiculopathy) are granted. The claim for sinus disability is remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions provided are inadequate and requires additional development to address the Veteran's claims for service connection. The issues of pes planus, bilateral foot disability (including degenerative joint disease), left-hand disability (other than left wrist osteoarthritis and left fifth finger sprain), bilateral knee disability, sleep apnea, right scapular pain, and dizziness are all remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various finger and wrist disabilities are being remanded due to the need for clarification regarding the severity of his conditions during flare-ups or following repeated use.