Wrist & hand decisions — 2023

The Board denied service connection for neurological disorders of the upper extremities other than carpal tunnel syndrome, finding no current disability and insufficient evidence linking any such condition to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left wrist disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which he contends are related to his military service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for right CTS, which she contends developed as a result of her right shoulder and biceps disabilities. However, the issue of service connection for these shoulder and biceps conditions is pending in another appeal under the AMA system. The Board has decided to remand this case until the AMA claim is resolved.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chipped tooth has been denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left bicep tendonitis and rotator cuff tendonitis, left shoulder condition, right wrist condition, right hand condition, right ankle condition, gastrointestinal condition, hemorrhoids, and headaches have all been remanded due to a lack of current diagnoses.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including verification of herbicide exposure and VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and a higher rating for low back disability is denied.,Service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left hand and right hand, as well as a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss are also denied.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, respiratory disability, prostate disability, left arm disability (hand carpal tunnel), right arm disability (hand carpal tunnel), left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, low back disability, left leg disability, right leg disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability or a relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of compliance with previous remand instructions and for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from an appropriate examiner regarding the Veteran's ability to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment considering his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist and left knee disorders due to insufficient rationale in the VA opinions provided.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for upper and lower back conditions, as well as a left wrist condition, have been granted.,Service connection is established for the Veteran's upper and lower back conditions based on evidence showing they are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to February 24, 2014 for a 60% rating for left wrist condition is reinstated. The claim for a higher rating for AIHA remains denied. The TDIU claim is also denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the evidence does not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU, but there is reasonable possibility that he is unemployable due to his service-connected mental health and wrist conditions. The case should be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is presumed to have been incurred in service due to noise exposure. The right wrist, right ankle, lumbar spine, and bilateral hearing loss issues are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's hypertension has been rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board is remanding his claim for service connection of left carpal tunnel syndrome due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left forearm/wrist disorders, including carpal tunnel syndrome, as secondary to his cervical and lumbar spine disabilities. The case is being returned to the AOJ for additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further evaluation of the Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome, as updated medical records are needed and examinations should be conducted.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased disability ratings for right wrist and right testicle epididymitis.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee pain and dysfunction, low back pain and dysfunction, left wrist pain and dysfunction, PTSD, and MDD. The conditions are deemed to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder, skin condition (also claimed as rash on arms), and residuals of ganglion cyst excision, bilateral wrists.,There is no persuasive evidence that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for disability residual to a VA referral for left arm surgery, finding that the Veteran does not have additional disability due to the surgery.