Wrist & hand decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that more development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of bilateral wrist disability and sleep apnea, as VA medical opinions are required to address whether these disabilities are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a lumbar spine condition, bilateral foot condition, right ankle skin condition, and knee conditions are being remanded for further development.,No specific exposure basis was provided in the decision summary.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the reduction of his wrist ankylosis rating from 40 percent to 30 percent is remanded. The claim for CUE in the October 1998 decision that did not grant service connection to disabilities caused by existing service-connected conditions is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case to consider a TDIU claim for the period from June 18, 2010 to April 1, 2013 due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal was denied because he did not timely file a valid Notice of Disagreement or Higher-Level Review request within one year of the February 2019 rating decision.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected painful surgical scar of the left wrist, finding that his symptoms are already compensated for within the ratings assigned for other related conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and increased ratings has been resolved. The right wrist disability was dismissed, the left elbow disability was denied, and the right ankle and neck disabilities were granted with specific rating criteria. The left ankle and right ankle scar disabilities remain denied.

The Board is remanding the case to evaluate whether the Veteran's nonservice-connected radial head fracture aggravated his service-connected bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and to determine if reimbursement for non-VA medical expenses is warranted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for dental condition, increased rating for left wrist disability, and TDIU due to inadequate medical evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome did not begin during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for additional development due to inadequate opinions and need for further examination. The issues are whether service connection can be granted for right wrist disability, which is claimed as a right-hand disability, and if aggravation of service-connected left-hand conditions caused or aggravated the right wrist condition.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his left wrist disability has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show ankylosis, which is required for a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right wrist disability was also denied. The VA examiner stated there was no medical link between any of the Veteran's service-connected conditions and his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the appellant is eligible to receive attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a February 2019 rating decision, and the appeal is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left hand/wrist condition, a left Achilles tendon condition, and an acquired psychiatric disability due to lack of evidence showing these conditions arose during or as a result of his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right wrist disorder other than traumatic arthritis with radial styloid tenosynovitis, to include right carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that there is no evidence of such a condition in service or related thereto.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is granted with a 20% rating from October 3, 2017. The left wrist disability remains in dispute and requires further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate previous medical opinions and new evidence is needed.

The Veteran's claims for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left arm, hypertension, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been denied. The Board has found that there is no current diagnosis or evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection for bilateral knee disability and lumbar spine disability is remanded as VA was unable to obtain the Veteran's outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic kidney disease and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to January 27, 2021. From that date, his combined disability rating was 100 percent due to the combination of all his service-connected conditions.

The Board granted service connection for GERD, but denied service connection for an eye disability and a left wrist disability. The claim for obstructive sleep apnea was remanded.