Wrist & hand decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left wrist disability, left foot disability, bronchial asthma, and COPD due to incomplete evidence. The Veteran is required to provide his Naval Reserve duty dates and must undergo VA examinations for his claimed conditions.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for several service-connected conditions, including skin condition, flat feet, GERD, left knee condition, left wrist condition, and left wrist scar. The Veteran's fibromyalgia and hypertension were granted service connection.,Several issues are remanded for further review, including initial ratings for various disabilities.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for cataracts, wrist condition, back condition, Hepatitis C, and periodontitis were granted. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a chronic back condition and Hepatitis C are now reopened.

The Veteran is seeking earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings due to CUE in multiple rating decisions. The Board finds that the RO did not address all theories of CUE, specifically regarding receipt of new and relevant service department records submitted by the Veteran in 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, low back, right wrist, and left wrist disabilities due to inadequate opinions in the previous VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for his right wrist and hand disabilities, bradycardia with right bundle branch block, cervical strain, and migraine headache disorder have been granted. Effective dates prior to April 13, 2018, are established.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examination reports and insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions. The Veteran is required to undergo additional VA examinations to address these issues.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete service treatment records and requests that the Veteran provide information about his specific state National Guard service in 1986 and 1987.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disability prior to December 30, 2020 is being remanded for further development. The VA needs to secure any relevant treatment records and ask the Veteran about his employment history.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ganglion cyst, right wrist; heart problems; depression due to marital problem; right knee injury; migraine headaches; and allergies/hay fever have been denied. The appeal is remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's glaucoma.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and increased ratings have been dismissed.,The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for various conditions.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability.,Tinnitus has been granted service connection, with the Board resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.,For tinea versicolor and pseudofolliculitis barbae, a rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted due to lack of evidence showing more than 20% body or exposed area affected.,The Veteran's low back disorder, left lower extremity sciatica, right lower extremity sciatica, erectile dysfunction, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and right carpal tunnel syndrome are all remanded for further development as VA examinations may be necessary to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.,Chronic sinusitis and headaches have been remanded due to lack of evidence showing current disability or in-service event.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to obtain an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected right wrist disabilities caused his left wrist osteoarthritis and aggravated it.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative disc disease with spondylosis of the lumbar spine, hernia, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, acquired psychiatric disorder, and valvular heart disease have all been denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within the applicable presumptive period.,The Veteran's current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, left hip, and left wrist disabilities must be remanded due to incomplete development of records from his in-service treatment. The VA will need to locate relevant hospital records from Oak Knoll Naval Regional Medical Center and research deck logs for the U.S.S. Niagara Falls.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with its August 2022 remand and another remand is necessary for the Veteran's left wrist, bilateral knees and arms, right shoulder conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claims for hypertension, hypothyroidism, carpal tunnel syndrome, tuberculosis, bilateral pes planus, and hyperlipidemia are all granted.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, contact dermatitis, low back disability, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and left carpal tunnel syndrome was granted.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted on a presumptive basis as a chronic disease.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right forearm myofascial syndrome, limitation of flexion, is denied as the evidence does not support finding that he has had right forearm motion limited to 90 degrees or fewer during the appeal period.,The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his right forearm myofascial syndrome, limitation of supination and pronation, is granted with an effective date of March 17, 2023. The issue of increased wrist disability remains remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error regarding the Veteran's diagnosis of wrist strain in 2016, and for obtaining relevant medical records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his left wrist disability, including TFCC tear and degenerative arthritis.