Wrist & hand decisions — 2022

The Veteran's initial increased ratings for right and left wrist disabilities have been denied.,The Veteran's TDIU claim has also been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD with alcohol use disorder, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to deficiencies in the prior VA examination and potential outstanding private treatment records. A new VA examination is needed to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left wrist disability.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a link between any of these conditions and active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to determine the etiology of his left shoulder disorder, lumbar spine disorder, right wrist disorder, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of death due to right wrist/hand carpal tunnel syndrome, denied a temporary total evaluation for the right wrist/hand, and remanded the issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for post-surgical scar associated with right wrist/hand CTS.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, stating he was satisfied with the April 2020 rating decision that granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder and post-operative basal cell carcinoma of the left ear and forearm.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the January 2021 remand directives and thus, the claims are being returned for further development.

The Board denied service connection for neck, low back, right shoulder, left shoulder, right hand carpal tunnel syndrome, left hand carpal tunnel syndrome, right knee, left knee, right leg, left leg, right foot, and left foot disorders due to a lack of evidence showing their onset during or within one year following active service.,The Board found that the Veteran's neck and low back disorders are not related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right upper extremity nerve disabilities, as well as for bilateral hearing loss. The appeals are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right upper extremity peripheral nerve condition, diagnosed as cervical radiculopathy and nerve neuropathy of the carpal tunnel, is secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability. The decision grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining retrospective opinions on the severity of his disabilities since April 2011.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and a need for further examination. The issues include headaches, PTSD, brain aneurysm, TBI, balance disability, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, dental disability, cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, right wrist disability, left wrist disability, right thumb disability, left thumb disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability.

Service connection is denied for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, right and left upper extremity neurological disabilities (other than bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome), right and left lower extremity neurological disabilities, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus.,The Veteran's current cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for an addendum opinion regarding service connection for a right upper extremity radial nerve.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no current disability of the feet, and the claim was denied on the basis that there is no evidence of a chronic foot condition during service or since. For his anxiety disorder with TBI, the Board determined that the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders (DC 9413) should be used, resulting in a 50% rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral hand disorder, bilateral wrist disorder, and right shoulder disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active-duty service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's cervical spine degeneration and bilateral wrist disability are not service-connected as secondary to her service-connected right shoulder disability, and thus remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a left wrist disorder, finding that the preexisting condition did not worsen beyond its natural progression during service.