Wrist & hand decisions — 2023

The Veteran's left and right wrist disabilities, OSA, chronic sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis are all granted as service-connected.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on their in-service onset and the competent and credible statements made by the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service combat injuries.

The appeal of the claim for service connection for Lyme disease is dismissed. The Board has remanded the claims for a left wrist disorder, a left hand disorder, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and PTSD from December 19, 2011.

Service connection has been granted for PTSD, MDD, and CFS.,Right carpal tunnel syndrome and left carpal tunnel syndrome are remanded due to lack of current diagnosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome is service-connected, granting her claim after considering all evidence and resolving reasonable doubt in her favor.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left wrist scar and eczema are being remanded due to the need for a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) with respect to additional medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and additional evidentiary development is required, including a VA examination for carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for sprain, right wrist (major) before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left wrist disabilities as secondary to service-connected carpel tunnel disabilities due to inadequate medical opinion regarding aggravation.

The Veteran's increased stipend in the PCAFC is granted due to his need for personal care services each time he completes at least three ADLs and is fully dependent on a caregiver, based on his service-connected conditions and documented medical problems.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of May 8, 2013 for the grants of service connection for left wrist disability and LLE radiculopathy, as well as a 20 percent evaluation for low back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left wrist disorders, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions began during or are otherwise related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic kidney disease, diabetic peripheral neuropathy with carpal tunnel syndrome in the right upper extremity, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, diabetic peripheral neuropathy in the left lower and right lower extremity, diabetic peripheral neuropathy with carpal tunnel syndrome in the left upper extremity, and coronary artery disease (CAD), have rendered him unable to secure or maintain gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied as there is no competent evidence of current diagnosis or in-service stressor.,Service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome and left carpal tunnel syndrome were also denied due to lack of medical evidence showing the conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has ordered remand for further development. The issues of service connection for headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome are now before the AOJ.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for various conditions, including back condition, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, right ankle condition, ganglion cyst, GI condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The appeals are granted to this extent.

The Board has remanded several issues for readjudication due to the submission of additional evidence since the last decision. The Veteran is requested to waive AOJ consideration of this new evidence.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the claims for prostate cancer, hearing loss, and left wrist fracture before a decision was made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right carpal tunnel syndrome should be remanded due to a failure to reschedule her for a VA examination. The Veteran is not entitled to an increased rating for her service-connected vertigo, as her symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 6204 or Diagnostic Code 6205.

The Veteran's appeal for higher level review of the September 2018 rating decision was denied due to being untimely.