Wrist & hand decisions — 2023

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right wrist disabilities, as well as left and right knee disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were related to in-service injuries.

The Board has determined that additional evidence was submitted and requires further review by the AOJ before a final decision can be made.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete etiology opinions and failure to substantively comply with previous directives.,Specifically, the Board found that the VA examiners' opinions were inadequate as they did not address the Veteran's contentions regarding his MOS as an aircraft mechanic and the onset of symptoms during work activities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right wrist arthritis as secondary to his service-connected disability of status post metacarpophalangeal joint fusion of right thumb is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist, right foot, and left foot disabilities due to new and material evidence. However, it denied these claims as there is no evidence that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active duty service.

An effective date of July 26, 1970, but no earlier, for the award of service connection for left wrist scar has been granted. Effective June 4, 2009, service connection was established for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. An effective date prior to June 25, 2010, for the award of service connection for migraine headaches is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left wrist disorder, left knee disorder, right arm disorder (other than residuals of a fractured distal radius), and left arm disorder due to inadequate opinions in prior decisions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability has been reopened and granted.,Service connection is granted for sleep apnea, as it is secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disability.,Service connection is denied for left wrist disability.,Service connection is denied for right shoulder disability.,An effective date earlier than April 29, 2016, for the grant of service connection for nephrolithiasis and ureterolithiasis (secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II) has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, neck condition, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, and right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being remanded for further examination to determine if it is related to service.,The Veteran's genitourinary disability is being remanded for an addendum opinion from the June 2022 VA examiner to determine its relationship to service.,The Veteran's right wrist CTS is being remanded for an addendum opinion from the November 2022 VA examiner to determine if it is related to service.,PTSD and other specified depressive disorder (hereinafter PTSD) are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to service.,Right leg shin splints are being remanded for an addendum opinion from the June 2022 VA examiner to determine their relationship to service.,Left leg shin splints are being remanded for an addendum opinion from the June 2022 VA examiner to determine their relationship to service.,Allergic rhinitis is being remanded for an addendum opinion from the January 2023 VA examiner to determine its relationship to service.,Dermatitis is being remanded for an addendum opinion from the January 2023 VA examiner to determine its relationship to service.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the right wrist, finding that it is etiologically related to the Veteran's long career as a mechanic during military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his claims of bilateral hearing loss, headache disability, left wrist ganglion cyst with residual scar, and anterior trunk scar.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right elbow and right wrist disabilities are not related to service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service. The claims for these disabilities have been denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating on his right wrist condition has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims on appeal, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a contemporaneous examination to determine the extent of nerve disabilities. The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder strain may be related to his claimed nerve disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims due to failure of the Veteran to appear for VA examinations and requests for etiology opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected right carpal tunnel syndrome was reduced from a 50 percent rating to a 40 percent rating, effective April 1, 2019. The Board found the reduction improper and restored the original 50 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral wrist and knee disabilities due to inconsistencies in the VA opinions provided, as well as gaps in medical records.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the issues on appeal, including a new VA examination to evaluate the current level of severity of the service-connected disabilities. The remanded issues include evaluations for painful scars and scar tissue damage associated with ganglion cysts in the Veteran's right wrist.

The Board has remanded several rating decisions and service connection claims due to the submission of additional VA examination and treatment records since April 2019. The Veteran is advised to submit a waiver for these records or have them considered by the AOJ.