Wrist & hand decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome, but denied service connection for a respiratory disorder other than COPD and sleep apnea. The Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome is considered a medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness (MUCMI) that manifested to a degree of 10 percent or more and existed for at least six months.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ulnar neuropathy, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and bilateral Dupuytren's disease due to inadequate medical opinions in the prior decision.

The Board found that the calculation of the combined disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected disabilities was correct, resulting in a 40 percent rating. The claim for a higher combined rating is denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for hyperparathyroidism and a right wrist disability, to include as secondary to hyperparathyroidism, for further development of the record.

The Board has granted service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right and left hands, finding that it is related to in-service exposure to burn pits.

The Veteran's appeal is partially granted, with a 10% rating for the left arm scar associated with carpal tunnel release surgery. The rating for left hand carpal tunnel syndrome remains remanded due to new evidence potentially warranting a higher rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, fibromyalgia, a low back condition, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and left carpal tunnel syndrome due to new and material evidence. The claims are now pending before the Board.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of several service-connected conditions, including recurrent leg and sleep disabilities. The Board also notes that the combined rating for all service-connected disabilities has not yet reached a level sufficient to warrant a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a back condition, gastrointestinal disorder, and bilateral wrist condition due to lack of documentation in the Veteran's service treatment records.

The VA denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo, compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for left thumb surgeries, and a rating in excess of 40 percent for bilateral hearing loss prior to November 7, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine osteoarthritis was granted, with a disability rating of 30 percent.,Service connection claims for bilateral wrist condition, bilateral hip condition, and bilateral ankle condition were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left hand osteoarthritis, right hand osteoarthritis, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, and right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hand and knee disabilities due to conflicting etiological opinions and inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating of left knee and wrist disabilities due to additional examination and review of records. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board remands the issues of service connection for a RIGHT shoulder disorder, to include as secondary to service-connected bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome of the wrists; service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability; an initial rating greater than 10 percent for a LEFT ankle disability; and an initial rating greater than 10 percent for carpal tunnel syndrome of both wrists. The remand is necessary to obtain additional evidence, including VA treatment records and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and temporary total disability ratings based on surgeries related to his service-connected ganglion cyst of the left wrist have been denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 10% for residuals of a ganglion cyst of the left wrist prior to January 16, 2020.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, fibromyalgia, and other joint disorders, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for a right wrist disability, to include osteoarthritis, as the condition clearly and unmistakably pre-existed the Veteran's entrance into active duty and was not aggravated by his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, as well as tremors (shaking of both hands), all secondary to service-connected multiple myeloma. Bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is denied due to lack of a current diagnosis or etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone were not of such a nature and severity as to prevent him from securing or following any substantially gainful employment, thus the claim for TDIU was denied.