Wrist & hand decisions — 2023

The Board denied service connection for a lower back condition and a neck/upper back condition, finding no medical evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.,Service connection was granted for left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome and left wrist osteoarthritis based on their being secondary to the Veteran's service-connected ganglion cyst.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is not service-connected as it did not originate in service or until years thereafter and is not otherwise etiologically related to service.,The Veteran's right knee disability was manifested, at worst, by limitation of flexion to 100 degrees for the right knee and 110 degrees for the left knee. The Veteran has been assigned the highest schedular ratings assignable for his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right ankle condition, left ankle condition, left thumb sprain, right wrist condition, left knee condition (previously claimed as bilateral knees), lower left leg trauma, and left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's claims were not supported by current disability evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle, right knee, and left wrist disabilities. The decision is based on the evidence being in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.,Service connection was also granted for bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy and left cubital tunnel syndrome.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including right and left shoulder disabilities, elbow/arm disability, wrist disabilities, knee disabilities with shin splints, low back disability, neuropathy of the lower extremities, cold weather injury residuals, sleep apnea, TBI, and vertigo. The appeals are based on a direct relationship to service without any presumption or secondary connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, right hand disability, or left hand disability for VA purposes.,As such, the claims for service connection for these conditions are denied.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection of various musculoskeletal disabilities and fibromyalgia must be remanded due to inadequate medical opinions provided in prior VA examinations. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded as it may significantly impact the outcome of these service connection issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of right wrist, shoulder, elbow, and bicep disabilities due to outstanding service treatment records not being obtained.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial disability ratings are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his claimed disabilities, as well as a TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives. The Veteran's claim for service connection for joint pain, including low back, bilateral hips, bilateral knees, and right wrist, is being reviewed.

Your claims for service connection related to back disorder, right knee disorder, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) have been remanded. The Board found that the evidence is insufficient to establish a direct relationship between these conditions and your active-duty service.,The Veteran's hypertension and headaches were reopened based on new evidence showing potential links to his PTSD.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for various service-connected conditions have been dismissed.,A claim to reopen a previously denied claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability has been granted, and the Veteran is now entitled to service connection for adjustment disorder, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and alcohol abuse disorder.

The Veteran's right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome is granted a 30 percent rating prior to March 30, 2018 and a 50 percent rating from that date.,The Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for facial scarring, left index finger injury, left ring finger injury, left little finger injury, left thumb injury, left wrist injury, and skin disease (claimed as 'rash all over body') due to potential new evidence. The Veteran will be provided a VA examination if his preexisting conditions are confirmed during the appellate period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right wrist disability, finding that there is insufficient evidence to support the claim and requiring an updated medical opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and insomnia), headaches, traumatic brain injury, obstructive sleep apnea, knee disorders, foot disorders, ankle disorders, elbow disorders, shoulder disorders, hip disorders, hand disorders, wrist disorders, lumbar spine disorders, shin disorders, cold injury disorders, upper extremity cold injury disorders. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a diagnosis for these conditions during service or within one year of discharge and thus could not establish service connection.

The Veteran's low back disability, left wrist arthritis, and hypertension have been granted service connection. The low back disability is directly related to the in-service motorcycle accident. Left wrist arthritis is presumed due to continuous symptomatology since service. Hypertension has been aggravated by chronic pain from other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal of the December 2018 SOC is reinstated, and his claims for service connection are decided on their merits.

The Veteran's right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome is related to an in-service injury, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.