Wrist & hand decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for compensation purposes for the claimed right Muscle Group VII injury residuals, right Muscle Group VIII injury residuals, right median nerve entrapment, medial nerve release residuals and carpal tunnel syndrome, post operative right median nerve entrapment release scar residuals, and right shoulder tendinitis.

The Board has determined that additional evidence must be considered before a final decision can be made on the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence in her service treatment records. The Veteran is also required to provide any outstanding private medical records and undergo a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her right eye disability.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is granted as service-connected, and the issues of left shoulder, left arm nerve, right arm nerve, left leg nerve, and right leg nerve disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for bilateral hearing loss and carpal tunnel syndrome. The remaining issues of service connection for a psychiatric disability (depression), erectile dysfunction, and hypertension have been remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome, finding no evidence of a nexus to service or herbicide exposure. The skin disorder claim is remanded as the opinion did not address whether it was secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a fracture of the left wrist and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new one must be conducted to assess the current severity of the Veteran's left wrist disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right hand, left hand, right knee, and left knee rheumatoid arthritis disorders are not related to his active service. The Veteran's left wrist disorder is also not linked to his military service.

The Veteran's representative withdrew the appeals for increased ratings of PTSD and left wrist sprain, leading to their dismissal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with TBI and lumbar strain, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU effective June 5, 2009.

The appeal of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability and bilateral shoulder disability is dismissed.,The appeals of entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee disability and bilateral hand disability, secondary to the right wrist disability are remanded.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with its prior remand directives and has therefore ordered the claims for service connection for various conditions to be remanded for further development.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to a lack of pre-1998 VA treatment records and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, serous otitis media, and several other conditions were denied. The appeals for increased ratings for hearing loss and scars, as well as the effective date claims for serous otitis media and scars were also denied.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that it is related to complaints of left wrist pain during military service.

The Veteran's service-connected left wrist sprain, left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, right medial epicondylitis, painful elbow motion, left elbow medial epicondylitis (painful elbow and forearm motions), left knee strain, and thoracolumbar strain are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's failure to attend VA examinations for his upper extremity symptoms is due to good cause and remands the case for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a new examination if necessary.