Wrist & hand decisions — 2023

The Board has found a duty to assist error due to the Veteran's cancellation of VA examinations and remands the cases for further development, including scheduling new VA examinations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals in their entirety, including those for earlier effective dates and higher ratings for PTSD, as well as service connection claims for various conditions. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has denied service connection for the right knee disorder and remanded the issues of service connection for disorders of the left hand, right hand, left wrist, right wrist, left ankle, and right ankle. The Veteran's claims are being returned to VA for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and remanded the issue of secondary service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome to include as secondary to service-connected residuals of a ganglion cyst of the right wrist.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that there was no evidence of a disease or injury in service indicative of right carpal tunnel syndrome and that the current disability is not related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral wrist disorder, finding that there was no credible evidence of an in-service injury or disease relevant to his claimed condition.

The Veteran's claim for a separate rating for his right chest shell fragment wound, muscle group I, minor arm was denied. The Board found that the symptoms were not distinct from those of muscle group II and concluded that assigning a separate rating would constitute impermissible pyramiding.,For the appeal period from April 3, 2012, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted his claim for TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for right hand/wrist nerve damage due to VA treatment, finding that the evidence does not support a finding of carelessness, negligence, or fault on the part of VA.

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to service connection for right and left wrist disabilities, as well as right and left knee disabilities due to incomplete opinions from the VA-QTC examiner.

The Board has granted temporary total disability ratings from February 12, 2018 through July 8, 2018, and from September 1, 2018 through December 4, 2018, for convalescence following left wrist surgeries performed in February 2018 and July 2018. The decision is based on the need for treatment due to surgery necessitating at least one month of convalescence.

The Board has granted service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (insomnia disorder), lumbosacral strain, left elbow lateral epicondylitis, left wrist degenerative arthritis, rhinitis, sinusitis, tinnitus, leftward septal deviation, nose and neck scars, and urinary disability (manifested by increased frequency).,The Board found the evidence to be approximately evenly balanced as to whether these conditions had their onset during or are related to service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and carpal tunnel syndrome, right hand, have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral wrist conditions due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral wrist conditions, and the VA examiner will need to address her lay statements regarding repetitive in-service injuries.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error and will need to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed to his death.

The Board has found that there is not sufficient evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's current diagnoses are not related to his active duty service.,Regarding arthritis of the left wrist, left knee, and ankles, the Board has found that there is insufficient evidence to determine if these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other disabilities, has rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since November 8, 2010. Effective from that date, he is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and opinions to determine the nature and etiology of his left elbow condition, cubital tunnel syndrome, shoulder condition, back condition, knee condition, acquired psychiatric disorder, eye condition, neuropathy of the hands, and neuropathy of the feet.,The Veteran's appeal is also remanded for an examination and opinion regarding his bilateral cubital tunnel syndrome (claimed as carpal tunnel syndrome).,The Veteran's appeal is also remanded for an examination and opinion regarding his shoulder condition.,The Veteran's appeal is also remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his back condition.,The Veteran's appeals are all remanded for additional examinations and opinions to determine the nature and etiology of his knee, eye, hand, and foot conditions.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (cyclothymic disorder and PTSD) appeal is also remanded for an examination and opinion regarding its etiology.,The Veteran's appeals are all remanded for additional examinations and opinions to determine the nature and etiology of his eye condition.,The Veteran's appeals are all remanded for additional examinations and opinions to determine the nature and etiology of his hand and foot conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, Meniere's disease, diabetes, tendonitis of the right wrist, mild osteoarthritis of the left knee, and mild osteoarthritis of the right knee, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to November 6, 2015. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to failure to comply with previous directives and issues related to scheduling of VA examinations. The Veteran is advised to provide his current address and contact information for further action.

The Board has denied service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right and left upper extremities as there is no evidence that it was incurred or aggravated by military service, and it did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from service.