Wrist & hand decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance, warranting SMC at the L level.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for dry eye disorder, an eye pressure disorder, and a right hand/wrist disorder due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for thyroid cancer due to in-service exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Service connection for a neurological disorder of the bilateral wrists is remanded.

The Veteran's right and left CTS have been granted initial disability ratings of 30% and 20%, respectively.,Service connection for PTSD has been remanded due to incomplete personnel records and need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for residuals of left wrist injury is denied as the condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection and other claims due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his bilateral wrist disorder, elbow disorder, and plantar fasciitis due to missing records and need for a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for psychiatric, cervical spine, ulcer, right upper extremity (carpal tunnel syndrome), left upper extremity (carpal tunnel syndrome), right lower extremity (tarsal tunnel syndrome), and left lower extremity (tarsal tunnel syndrome) disabilities. These claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings on multiple conditions has been dismissed.,No effective date was granted or changed.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's low back disability. The appeal of this issue must be returned for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his bilateral knee and foot conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. His TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for further development. The issues include arthritis, hearing loss, cold weather injuries, hemorrhoids, hiatal hernia, GERD, hepatitis C, erectile dysfunction, carpal tunnel syndrome, and a psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right wrist sprain is dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a left wrist disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, adjustment disorder, depression, and an eating disorder), increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and a rating for his upper extremity conditions, tonsillectomy, and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew from appeal on all issues.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is granted as incurred in service.,The Veteran's left arm, left hand/wrist, and right hand/wrist disorders are not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left wrist fracture residuals is remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and consideration of recent treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities, particularly those related to his right ankle disability.

The Veteran's service-connected hemorrhoids and carpal tunnel syndrome disabilities were evaluated, with the right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome receiving a 10% rating from March 13, 2012 to May 4, 2021. The denial of a compensable rating for hemorrhoids and the granting of a 10% rating for both upper extremity carpal tunnel syndromes are noted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right wrist osteoarthritis may be related to his service-connected left wrist strain with history of ganglion cyst, and thus remands for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a right shoulder disability are granted, while the claims for left elbow, wrist, and rib cage disabilities as well as a right elbow injury are denied.