Wrist & hand decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions and need for additional evidence, including a VA opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome with ulnar neuropathy.

The Veteran's right wrist disorder is not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a link between the condition and his military service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains on appeal as there are conflicting opinions regarding its onset in service.,The Veteran's bilateral knee disorder has been remanded for further examination and evaluation.,Service connection for a headache disorder is granted based on current medical evidence.,Tinnitus was granted service connection, effective October 13, 2016.

The Board has denied service connection for various disabilities, including left and right hand disabilities, wrist disabilities, shoulder disability, knee disabilities, leg disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, sinus condition, and hypertension. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis and vasomotor rhinitis, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a left wrist disability due to conflicting evidence.

The Board has ordered a remand for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis of the right wrist, as well as its relationship to his service-connected residuals of a right wrist fracture with degenerative changes and loss of motion.

The Veteran's scar on his left dorsal wrist is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board has determined that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to its pain and hypersensitivity.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to clarify the mailing of a January 2014 rating decision and to verify the Veteran's service dates in the Air National Guard. Additionally, medical opinions are requested regarding whether any current disabilities are related to service, including during Operation Desert Shield/Storm.

The Board found insufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility that the Veteran was unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, and the evidence supported a finding that he was not unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. Therefore, TDIU benefits were denied.

Asthma was granted service connection effective March 26, 2015.,Right knee joint osteoarthritis and right wrist osteoarthritis were granted service connection effective October 3, 2014.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of her right wrist TFCC tear, finding that there was no causal relationship between her current condition and her military service.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including right hand/wrist disability, right arm disability, left knee disability, and related numbness in the left leg. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to Reserve service.,The Board also denied service connection for low back disability, right leg disability, and tinnitus.

The Board has found that additional development is necessary due to conflicting opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and his left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's bilateral hand and wrist condition, sleep disorder, lower back condition, right foot condition, and right knee condition are all remanded for further development.,The Board finds the VA opinions inadequate and requires additional medical opinions on whether these conditions were incurred in or caused by service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include arm, hand, wrist, skin, sinus, ear, and psychiatric disorders.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to additional evidence being added to the record and a need for further procedural development.

The Veteran's initial request for a compensable rating for her right wrist scar from August 1, 2014 to October 16, 2018 was denied. From October 17, 2018, the Veteran received a 10 percent rating for her painful right wrist scar.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including consideration of new VA treatment records and hospitalization reports. The issues include rating adjustments for various conditions and service connection for additional disabilities.

The Veteran's right wrist arthritis and scar have been continuously rated at 10 percent since the appellate period began, with no higher ratings granted.,There is currently no evidence of ankylosis in the right wrist, which would allow for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5214.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left wrist condition is at least as likely as not related to his active-duty service, granting service connection for this disability.

The appeal for service connection of various disabilities, including a right lower extremity disability, has been dismissed as the Veteran's claim was granted in full. The remaining issues have been remanded for further review.