Wrist & hand decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent them from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to February 5, 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left and right wrist disorders, as well as his acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. Additional examinations are needed to address these issues.

The Board has decided to remand two issues related to the Veteran's left wrist and left knee conditions due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's arthritis of the lumbar spine, to include DDD and DJD, is granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbar strain. The Veteran's tenosynovitis of the right wrist and left wrist are also granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbar strain.

The Board has vacated the July 2021 decision and remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a right wrist fracture post bone graft repair, prior to September 8, 1998, as it was adjudicated in a final May 2022 Board decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and occupational experience during the period on appeal prior to October 1, 2016. Therefore, TDIU was denied.

The Veteran's right ankle disability was rated at 10% prior to August 11, 2021 and granted a 20% rating effective from that date. The ratings for her carpal tunnel syndromes were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma as secondary to a service-connected psychiatric disorder. Service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome and right carpal tunnel syndrome is denied, with the latter issue remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities. The case must be returned for adequate opinions.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an increased rating of 70 percent effective June 26, 2019.,Service connection for hypertension is denied. The Veteran's new and material evidence has reopened the claim, but service connection remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD was dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal.,A 40 percent rating, but not higher, has been granted for left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome prior to June 20, 2019. The Veteran is currently rated at 40 percent for this condition after that date.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his left wrist scar was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, or reopening of previously denied claims have been granted. The case is remanded for further development on some issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further development regarding the Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance, specifically related to his service-connected disabilities other than schizophrenia.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right wrist disorder and chronic headaches due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's lay statements were not considered sufficient to establish service connection, but his in-service complaints of pain and treatment have been noted.

The Veteran's left shoulder tendonitis, lumbar strain, bilateral wrist strains, right ankle strain, and status post fasciotomy have been granted increased ratings. The service connection for a prescription medication condition, memory loss, hernias, fibromas of the left lower back, and TDIU has been remanded.

The Board denied service connection for polycythemia, right hand carpal tunnel syndrome, and left hand carpal tunnel syndrome due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, hemorrhoids, and CTS were reopened due to new evidence submitted. The effective date for the award of service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is set at May 19, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations. The mental health claim is related to a possible PTSD diagnosis, while the gastrointestinal disorder claim requires further examination of potential connections to service. The left wrist scars claim also needs an examination.

The Board has denied an increased rating for right wrist sprain and remanded other service connection claims. Additional examinations are needed to assess the severity of left elbow olecranon bursitis, knee disability, back disability, neuropathy of hands/feet, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, shoulder disability, eye disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder.