Wrist & hand decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating increases have been remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records, including National Guard service treatment records and VA treatment records. The effective dates for some awards are also being reviewed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education, training, and work history.

The Board has withdrawn the appeals for earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for a left wrist ganglion cyst and for the grant of service connection for a left wrist scar.,The claims for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back and ankle conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from October 22, 2010 to March 8, 2016.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, and for an increased rating for a left wrist disability. The claims are being remanded to obtain necessary medical records and to schedule the Veteran for examinations.

The Board denied service connection for left and right wrist disabilities, as well as a higher initial rating for PTSD. The appeal for an earlier effective date prior to January 13, 2017 for PTSD was also denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received sufficient to reopen the claim for service connection of a low back condition. The claims for service connection of right shoulder, right hand carpal tunnel, and sciatica conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae was denied a compensable rating, as the condition did not meet the criteria for any higher rating.,Service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and left elbow disorder were both denied. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA clinical records and an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome is being reviewed again for proper service connection.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the remand directives for the right hip, back strain secondary to right hip strain, and right wrist tendinosis cases. Therefore, these issues are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to scheduling issues with VA examinations. The Veteran is advised that failure to cooperate by not attending the requested VA examination may result in an adverse determination.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings on multiple service-connected disabilities, including cervical radiculopathy, degenerative joint disease of the neck and shoulder, PTSD, and arthritis of the wrist, is remanded due to need for additional examinations. Additionally, his claim for service connection for arthritis of the joints, potentially related to exposure in Southwest Asia, is also remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for right wrist fracture residuals with DJD. The current VA examination was inadequate and does not provide sufficient information regarding the severity of the disability, including any neurological manifestations or loss of use.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and meniscal tear of the right knee are remanded due to outstanding medical records and inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's initial rating for left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome has been granted at a 20 percent level.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding that the current disabilities are not related to military service.,Service connection was also denied for residuals of a right wrist burn due to lack of evidence linking the condition to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for joint pain and fatigue disorder, including chronic fatigue syndrome. The Veteran is presumed exposed to burn pits during his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as he has not been precluded from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment solely due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Board found no evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating exacerbations to warrant a higher rating.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for various disabilities, including right and left ankle, acne, left wrist, left knee, right knee, and low back disabilities. The appeal is remanded for further evaluation of current disability ratings.