Wrist & hand decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and a request for additional information.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient medical opinions and inextricably intertwined issues. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various knee and wrist disabilities, which are currently under review.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations due to the submission of additional VA treatment records that were not previously considered.

The Board dismissed the referral of a claim for clear and unmistakable error in a 1995 rating decision because the July 1995 hearing officer decision was not final, and therefore could not be subject to a collateral attack on the basis of CUE.

The appeal of a service connection claim for albuminuria is dismissed. The service connection claims for insomnia, tinnitus, anemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus (diabetes), bilateral knee disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD), plantar fasciitis, acquired psychiatric disability, female sexual arousal disorder, and tinea pedis are referred back to the Regional Office for appropriate development and adjudication.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder rotator cuff condition, right shoulder rotator cuff condition, and right wrist degenerative arthritis as no VA Form 10182 was submitted to appeal under the AMA framework.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the issues of increased ratings for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and service connection for right wrist and left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as secondary service connection for a right shoulder disability. The Veteran's claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and consideration.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left elbow and wrist disabilities due to incomplete compliance with prior remand directives. The Veteran's service records indicate he had symptoms of numbness, weakness, and pain in his arms during service and after separation.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for a right wrist disability, TDIU, and SMC due to the inadequacy of the current examination report.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar spine disability and Kienbock's disease of the right wrist and hand due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, finding that she failed to report for scheduled VA examinations and did not provide good cause for her absences. The appeals were dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and inadequate opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral hand and wrist conditions. The AOJ is required to obtain additional medical records, including those from Lawrence Joel Army Health Clinic, Elite Family Practice, Physiotherapy Associates, and Craniospinal Institute of Georgia. An independent medical expert (IME) opinion is also needed.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, obstructive sleep apnea, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and lumbar spine degenerative changes at L4-5 due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between obesity and these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PCOS, left upper extremity CTS, right upper extremity thoracic outlet syndrome, and left upper extremity thoracic outlet syndrome. The issues of entitlement to higher ratings for cervical spine disability prior to April 8, 2019 were remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder condition and remanded the issue of service connection for his right wrist condition.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate VA examination opinions regarding the Veteran's left ankle and right wrist conditions. The Veteran is required to provide updated treatment records and undergo a new medical examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that it is as likely as not proximately due to or the result of his already determined service-connected electrical flashburn scars on his wrists and hands.

The Board has determined that additional development is required for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected left wrist, status post fracture; service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus; and service connection for left shoulder osteoarthritis. The Veteran will need new VA examinations for these issues.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection.