Wrist & hand decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including sleep disturbance, left and right wrist disabilities, hand disabilities, and shin splints of both legs. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to uncertainty regarding the Veteran's diagnosis of ALS and insufficient evidence on other conditions. The issues related to sleep apnea, prostate cancer, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome require additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine the nature and severity of his left wrist disability, including whether it results in ankylosis. Additionally, he needs a VA examination to assess any neurological symptoms, such as numbness.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has remanded them for further development due to outstanding VA and private treatment records.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased rating claims regarding right wrist, right hand (including arthritis), left foot, right foot, and headache disabilities. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Board dismissed the appeals for right and left lower extremity neuropathy, right hand condition, and left hand condition. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, respiratory disability, right wrist condition, and left wrist condition were granted service connection. The appeal for erectile dysfunction is being remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA Form 10182 Decision Review Request must be remanded due to duty-to-assist errors prior to the January 2020 rating decision. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hand arthritis, bilateral wrist joint pain, and left hip joint pain are being remanded as there is a need for VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the VA did not fully consider all periods of service and relevant records, as well as the Veteran's contentions regarding his claimed disabilities. The claims for left hand, left wrist, right hand, and right wrist disabilities are being remanded to allow for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome and polyarthritis due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right and left shoulder, knee, ulna/radius fracture, wrist compound fracture, lumbar compression fracture with degenerative disc disease, and PTSD. The issues include determining service connection for these conditions and assigning appropriate disability ratings.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was granted a disability rating of 30 percent, effective from the date of this decision. The Board dismissed all other issues as they were withdrawn by the appellant.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction and tinnitus are granted as secondary to service-connected conditions.,OSA is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its relationship to the Veteran's service-connected disability, including potential TERA exposure.

The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist was caused by VA treatment, and the Board has ordered a remand to obtain an adequate medical opinion.

The Veteran's right upper extremity carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndrome with polyneuropathy was granted an increased rating of 40 percent from October 22, 2018 onwards. Prior to this date, the disability was rated as mild.

The Veteran's claim to service connection for a right wrist disability was granted in an April 2013 rating decision. The claim is now dismissed as the full benefit sought has been granted.

The Veteran's case is being remanded for another VA examination to determine if his left wrist and arm disorder, including left tight carpal tunnel, was first manifested during service or aggravated by service. Additionally, the TDIU issue is inextricably intertwined with the service connection issue and must be addressed together.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to May 22, 2014 is denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence addressing aggravation.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck condition and right wrist condition, as secondary to her service-connected right shoulder condition due to inadequate examination opinions. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on all issues except eye problems, tinnitus, and stomach problems (undiagnosed or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom Gulf War illness) has been dismissed. The claim of service connection for left wrist disability, right wrist disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, back disability, and psychiatric disability (including PTSD) is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to perform substantially gainful employment, and thus granted a TDIU.