Wrist & hand decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient examination findings and treatment records. The appeals are now pending again.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including cough-variant asthma, thoracolumbar scoliosis, left shoulder tendinitis with clavicle fracture, tinnitus, right and left carpal tunnel syndromes, residuals of otitis media, and left lower extremity radiculopathy, are rated at 70 percent combined from December 2, 2010. The Board has granted a TDIU rating based on these disabilities, but the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, neurocognitive disorder, and erectile dysfunction remain unresolved.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ulcerative colitis was denied, and his ratings for cervical spine disability were also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection or an increase in rating.

The Board's decision has been vacated, and the Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome due to insufficient evidence and need for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for a healed right thumb fracture, service connection for a right hand and fingers condition, and service connection for a right wrist condition due to inadequate examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's service-connected right wrist ganglion cyst with residual scar, specifically addressing her reports of numbness, instability, muscle stiffness and weakness.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate rationale in the previous VA examination opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome is aggravated by his service-connected left hand scar.

The Board denied service connection for various joint disabilities, including cervical spine arthritis, right hand and finger arthritis, left hand and finger arthritis, right hip arthritis, left hip arthritis, right shoulder arthritis, left shoulder arthritis, right wrist arthritis, left wrist arthritis, and right knee degenerative arthritis.,The evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran was previously employed but resigned due to service-connected disabilities, including back pain and ureteral stricture.,From January 1, 2017, onward, the combination of his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral carpal and cubital tunnel syndrome, as well as his right knee disability due to insufficient evidence in their favor.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and rating determinations due to the progression of his service-connected disabilities, specifically PTSD with insomnia disorder, right wrist strain, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right and left wrist tendonitis with volar ganglion cyst, finding that there is no evidence of ankylosis or functional ankylosis to warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the cases of numbness in the left arm and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development, including obtaining addendum opinions from a neurologist regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, CFS, lumbar and dorsal spine disorders, right wrist disorder, and right knee disorder. The claims are being remanded to allow for further investigation and medical opinions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome on a direct basis, finding that his duties as an aviation structural mechanic in service were at least as likely as not the beginning of the damage to his carpal tunnel.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left wrist disability, finding that his current conditions are not related to his in-service treatment of a ganglion cyst.

The Veteran's left wrist disability, characterized by intermittent pain and reduced range of motion, but not ankylosis, is rated at a 10 percent level for the entire period on appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left wrist disability and as secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service or any other condition.

The Board has identified new evidence that was not previously considered and has ordered the AOJ to review this evidence. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded so that the AOJ can consider all of the evidence, including the newly added VA-generated documents.