Wrist & hand decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ovary removal, gastritis, and right wrist disability have been granted. Service connection is also granted for PTSD with major depressive disorder from the effective date of July 22, 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of bilateral upper extremities and right foot disability, secondary to service-connected back, hip, and knee disabilities. The Veteran's claim is rated at 20% for each condition.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of these claims. The Board has also remanded several issues for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records.,No effective date is provided as the appeal involves ongoing disability evaluations.

The Board has dismissed all appeals related to service connection for various conditions as the Veteran requested withdrawal of these appeals prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical opinions and further development is required.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding causation and aggravation of his claimed conditions by his service-connected right elbow disability. Additional VA examinations are needed, and relevant SSA records should be obtained.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for hypertension and left wrist disability. Service connection is granted for lumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral shoulder, and right knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded multiple service connection claims due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions, as well as the need to obtain outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran's disabilities include musculoskeletal issues, hearing loss, psychiatric disorders, sleep apnea, lung conditions, headaches, heart condition, diabetes mellitus, kidney conditions, eye conditions, peripheral neuropathies, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has ordered remand for further development regarding his cervical spine condition, bilateral upper extremities radiculopathy conditions, right knee condition, left hand carpal tunnel condition, and right hand carpal tunnel condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left wrist disability was denied as the evidence did not show any additional impairment warranting a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the claims for low back disability and right wrist disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee strain, lumbosacral strain (lumbar strain disability), bilateral wrist strains due to deficiencies in the adequacy of prior VA examinations and need for additional clarification regarding functional loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that it is not related to his cervical spine and/or right shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his wrist disabilities and service connection for a disability secondary to his service-connected proximal muscle myopathy of the bilateral upper extremity are remanded. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing service treatment records and inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical evidence or have new examinations conducted.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but from November 14, 2020, a rating of 30 percent for traumatic arthritis, right wrist, status post navicular fracture is granted.

The Veteran's claims for right wrist disability, scar (claimed as stab wound), right fifth finger disability, bilateral eye disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder are all being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence. The claim for a 10 percent evaluation based upon multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities prior to April 23, 2021 is inextricably intertwined with these other claims.