Wrist & hand decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case for further review due to the Veteran's incarceration and inability to undergo in-person examination. The claim is being remanded for a records-based examination to determine if the left wrist disorder caused or aggravated numbness and tingling.

The Veteran's current right wrist disability, including a chronic right wrist sprain, right carpal tunnel syndrome, right cubital tunnel syndrome, and ganglion cyst, was incurred in line of duty during her periods of active service. The Board granted the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the physical loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands or feet, severe burn injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ankylosis of one or both knees or hips. Therefore, he does not qualify for financial assistance in purchasing a vehicle and adaptive equipment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions regarding his lumbar spine and right wrist conditions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, carpal tunnel syndrome, and osteoarthritis of the right wrist.

The Board has vacated the portion of the September 2021 decision that denied service connection for a left wrist disorder and has ordered another opinion to determine if the current left wrist disorder is related to or aggravated by a previously service-connected right fifth toe fracture.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete development and addressing all theories of entitlement, including secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation of left wrist fracture, service connection for endocrinopathy, and earlier effective date for TDIU were granted. The issue of service connection for left thumb disability as secondary to left wrist fracture was also granted. However, the claim for service connection for cervical spine disability was denied due to lack of evidence within one year of the March 2, 1976 notice letter.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right hand carpal tunnel syndrome and blindness due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine the etiology of his conditions.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for her left wrist disability and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, consideration of new evidence, and readjudication.

The Veteran's joint pain disabilities of the hands, elbows, legs, shoulders, and wrists are granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD. The claim for joint pain disability of the low back and musculoskeletal chest is remanded due to lack of a VA medical opinion addressing causation or aggravation by PTSD. The claim for headache is also remanded for an addendum VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities have been dismissed. Effective May 24, 2010, the Veteran is granted a TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hand, knee, and cervical spine injuries due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's Reserve service includes periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA). A VA examination is required to determine if these conditions are related to his service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted.,The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claims of right and left knee disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is granted a 30% disability rating. Service connection for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, and migraines are denied.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for acne vulgaris and has remanded the remaining claims on appeal due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a right wrist ganglion cyst is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral lung disability, to include COPD and carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity. The Veteran's claim for bilateral eye disability, headaches, left cubital tunnel syndrome, GERD, and erectile dysfunction is being remanded due to incomplete medical opinions.,Service connection cannot be granted as there is no evidence of a current disability in service records or subsequent treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for anxiety and depression (now claimed as PTSD), right wrist disability, left wrist disability, left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis with glenohumeral and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and degenerative arthritis and disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeals regarding timeliness of a submission of a Notice of Disagreement for an earlier effective date for fracture of the right hand, 5th metacarpal and an earlier effective date prior to March 15, 2017 for service connection of PTSD. The claims for service connection for back disability, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to PTSD, right wrist disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are all remanded.