Wrist & hand decisions — 2023

The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist is granted service connection. The acquired psychiatric disability, to include an adjustment disorder with anxiety, is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis associated with right wrist injury and right ulnar neuropathy, finding that the current disabilities are at least as likely related to the Veteran's in-service injuries.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right knee, left knee, cervical spine disorder, CFS, right fingers, left fingers, right hip, left hip, lumbar spine disorder, right wrist, left wrist, left leg, right shoulder, left lower extremity sciatic nerve disorder, burns of the right tibia/fibula, and GERD disorders due to incomplete service treatment records and lack of confirmation of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and a right wrist condition due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection. The Veteran is seeking service connection based on his in-service injuries, including exposure to toxic substances during deployments.

The Veteran was found unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities prior to September 20, 2013.

The Board denied service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and a right upper extremity musculoskeletal disability (other than shoulder or elbow) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's residuals of a left wrist fracture have been granted an initial disability rating of 10 percent, effective December 20, 2022. The condition is currently rated as the maximum possible under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, a right wrist disability, hypertension, and coronary artery disease. The claim of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder is remanded. Service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and gastroesophageal reflux disease remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist, left wrist, right hip and left hip disorders due to insufficient evidence.,Further development is needed to determine if there are any current diagnoses or symptoms of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left wrist conditions have been denied as the VA contractor examinations could not be completed due to the Veteran's refusal, resulting in a denial of his claims.

The Veteran's appeal of the issues related to obstructive sleep apnea, hepatitis C, allergies, perforated ear drum, vision disability, carpal tunnel syndrome, cervical spine, and shoulder disabilities has been withdrawn. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims and did not provide new and material evidence within one year of the final rating decision.

The Veteran's TDIU claim from November 21, 2014, to February 1, 2016 was denied as she had full-time employment at that time.,The Veteran's TDIU claim from February 1, 2016, to March 23, 2023 was granted due to her service-connected disabilities preventing her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's asthma and migraine headache disability are granted as service-connected.,Service connection for right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's right wrist, hand, and fingers disability is currently rated at 40 percent. The Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, including his in-service symptoms and potential exposure. The Veteran needs to clarify his in-service symptoms, a TERA examination should be conducted, and an addendum opinion on etiology and pathophysiology is required.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral foot condition. The other issues on appeal are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions have been remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation.,No current diagnoses or functional impairments were found for some of the claimed conditions, leading to denial of service connection.

The Veteran's left wrist disability is granted a 30% rating from September 1, 2014 to February 22, 2021 and a 50% rating thereafter. The Veteran's back disability remains at 40%, and his thoracic spine arthritis continues to be rated as 10%. The Veteran is granted TDIU.