Wrist & hand decisions — 2023

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all issues, including right knee strain with degenerative arthritis, pseudofolliculitis barbae, hypertension, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. As a result, the Board dismisses these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for left wrist arthritis, left hand arthritis, and a lumbar spine disability. The conditions are deemed to have started during active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service medical records, and the Appellant is advised to submit alternative sources of evidence.

The Veteran's low back strain with spurring, right leg disability (pain in legs and numbness in toes), right groin disability (incisional hernia due to iliofemoral bypass), and left wrist tendonitis are all remanded for further development.,Specifically, the Board finds that relevant service treatment records were not obtained prior to the May 2009 rating decision, which denied the original claims. The Veteran's right groin disability claim also requires a VA examination.

The Board has denied the readjudication of claims for service connection for various ankle and elbow conditions, as well as left ear hearing loss. The evidence submitted did not meet the new and relevant criteria to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for asthma, left hand disability, right ankle disability, and right foot disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left patellofemoral syndrome and left carpal tunnel syndrome were denied because he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as they were received within one year of his separation from active service, and the effective dates cannot be earlier than August 1, 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for chondrocalcinosis of the right wrist, enlarged prostate, and degenerative arthritis of both knees. Service connection was denied for a left wrist disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, right wrist disability, left wrist disability, left knee disability, low back disability, depression, anxiety, right ankle disability, and right knee disability have been denied. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has ordered the AOJ to complete several actions related to the Veteran's claim for additional VA disability compensation benefits under the CRDP program, specifically for the period prior to March 1, 2010. The AOJ must obtain all relevant VA records and DFAS audit error worksheets, perform a paid and due audit, and readjudicate the claim.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected residual scars of the left wrist due to ganglion cyst was denied as their scars do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right wrist sprains, as well as her TDIU claim due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remands. The claims will be returned for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral upper extremity neurological disability, specifically carpal tunnel syndrome, which the Veteran asserts began during his active military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and remanded the remaining issues due to new evidence submitted. The claims are now pending for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a back condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, and right wrist strain or CTS have been granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle condition is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as there was no evidence showing she was unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran was engaged in substantially gainful employment prior to December 7, 2018. The Board found that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment during the rating period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including obtaining updated examinations and records. The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of any such condition. The other issues on appeal are being remanded for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations. The issues include low back, left wrist, left knee, right hip, and left hip conditions.