Wrist & hand decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and relationship of the Veteran's claimed conditions to his active service.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for his bilateral upper extremity and back disabilities were denied. The rating for ulnar nerve entrapment at elbow (left upper extremity) was denied as the disability did not meet the criteria for a greater than 20 percent rating. Similarly, the rating for carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar nerve entrapment at elbow (right upper extremity) was also denied. The rating for low back strain with degenerative changes was denied due to lack of evidence showing severe incomplete paralysis or ankylosis.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right hip degenerative joint disease and right wrist fracture were denied. A compensable rating for the right wrist fracture was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hand condition, including carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that there is no evidence of a right-hand condition or a neurologic condition of the hand/wrist while in service and that the Veteran was separated from service due to a shoulder injury. The examiner found no relationship between the remote pectoralis tear and carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board grants entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral knee, shoulder, and wrist disabilities has been granted.,Service connection is denied for a left wrist disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right wrist, hand, and thumb disabilities. The residuals of ulnar collateral ligament tear and ulnar nerve transfer surgery are also granted as secondary to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded all substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him during the periods from March 20, 2018 through November 30, 2020 and since March 23, 2022. However, the TDIU claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the period from December 1, 2020 through March 22, 2022.

The Veteran's service connection for sleep apnea is granted, and the initial disability rating for left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome remains at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to SMC at the housebound rate, right and left knee disabilities for extraschedular consideration. The Veteran's service-connected conditions include major depressive disorder, cervical spine disability, total knee replacements on both knees, gout in multiple joints, and other musculoskeletal conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for medical opinions. The issues include left wrist, forearm, eye disabilities, hypertension, CAD, and cerebrovascular accident.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a right wrist disability due to insufficient evidence and need for further development.

The Veteran's right wrist fracture is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome is currently rated as 10 percent disabling from December 3, 2021, with slight lateral instability. The Board denied a higher rating for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left wrist disability is not service connected as it did not begin during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the right wrist is being remanded due to inadequate prior examinations and the need for updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's right hip arthritis is rated at 20 percent for the period prior to May 19, 2022 and at 20 percent since then.,The Veteran's left ankle strain is rated at 20 percent throughout the appeal period.,The Veteran's right elbow strain (limitation of flexion) is rated at 30 percent for the period prior to May 19, 2022 and at noncompensable since then. The limitation of extension is rated as noncompensable.,The Veteran's right wrist degenerative joint disease is rated at 10 percent throughout the appeal period.,The Veteran's left wrist degenerative joint disease is rated at 10 percent throughout the appeal period.,The Veteran's right foot degenerative joint disease is rated at 20 percent for the period prior to May 19, 2022 and at noncompensable since then.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for her left wrist fracture and associated scars was denied. The highest schedular rating available under the applicable diagnostic codes has been awarded, with no indication of ankylosis or other conditions warranting a higher rating.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for right wrist, hand, ankle, and foot disabilities due to his withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The right wrist cyst was rated at 10%, and the focal neurologic symptoms of the right hand were not separately evaluated as secondary to the wrist cyst. The chronic lumbar strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve), and left lower extremity radiculopathy (common peroneal nerve) claims were also denied. The initial ratings for right lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve and common peroneal nerve were not granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,Service connection for tinnitus, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea prior to May 4, 2018 is also being remanded.