Wrist & hand decisions — 2023

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connection is established due to in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's TBI, migraine headache disorder, and left foot disability are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability. The claims of left foot fibroma, right foot fibroma (including postoperative residuals), right foot neuropathy secondary to removal of fibroma, right carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), and left CTS are remanded due to the need for further medical examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of increased ratings for wrist fractures and TDIU prior to July 28, 2021. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination to assess neurological impairment associated with his wrist fractures.

The Veteran's representative withdrew all pending disability compensation claims and appeals, including those related to various conditions such as posterior fossa tumor ependymoma, left wrist neuropathy, cholecystitis and cholelithiasis, depressive disorder (combined with neurocognitive disorder), light-headedness, dizziness and/or vertigo, headaches, ankle sprains, scars of the head, cognitive disorder, voiding dysfunction, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy. The appeal is dismissed as a result.

The Veteran's right wrist tendonitis, left shoulder strain with DJD, impingement, tendinopathy, and bursitis, and inguinal hernia were all found to be service-connected. The appeals for bilateral hearing loss and a left knee disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for carpal tunnel syndrome and shin splints are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is remanded for a new examination to determine its current severity. The issue of entitlement to TDIU, which is inextricably intertwined with the rating claim, is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea and right and left upper extremity disabilities due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection, exposure basis, and rating assignment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of asthma. The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim for asthma, and service connection was granted for obstructive sleep apnea. Other claims were remanded due to lack of STRs and Reserves records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient development and procedural errors, including failure to obtain service department records and private treatment records from Dr. H.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing service personnel records (SPRs). The claims will be reconsidered after obtaining the SPRs and additional medical opinions are provided.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than May 31, 2018, for the award of service connection for residuals of a left elbow fracture and a left wrist disability due to procedural errors in the initial adjudication.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his psychiatric conditions and skin thinning, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to April 16, 2020. From that date onwards, he met the schedular requirements for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee disability, right hand condition, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and left wrist disability due to inadequate examinations and failure to consider relevant medical literature.,The TDIU claim prior to February 26, 2021 is also remanded as it could significantly impact the other claims.

The Board has granted service connection for a left wrist/arm disability and remanded the issue of service connection for a right foot disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate opinions from the VA examiners regarding his claimed conditions and their relationship to service.

The appeals regarding left upper extremity CTS, right upper extremity CTS, and low back condition are dismissed. The appeal for erectile dysfunction is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and thoracic spine disability due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for left and right carpal tunnel syndrome has been withdrawn.,For the period prior to June 19, 2017, his cervical spine disability is not shown to meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.