Wrist & hand decisions — 2023

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hand degenerative arthritis, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, left wrist degenerative arthritis, and left index finger condition due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantial gainful employment prior to December 16, 2021. As of December 16, 2021, the Veteran is in receipt of a combined 100 percent disability rating for his service-connected disabilities, rendering the TDIU claim moot.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for generalized anxiety disorder, hemorrhoids, residuals of a head injury, migraines, right wrist disability, left wrist disability, left hand disability, PTSD, sleep apnea, jaw disability, and chest pain. The remaining issues have been dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the evidence does not support higher ratings for his thoracic disability, coccydynia, right knee chondromalacia patella, right wrist CTS, left wrist CTS, and related fingers. Service connection was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lung disability, back disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, and right wrist disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development of the record.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 1, 2022.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various joint disabilities, including right shoulder glenohumeral degenerative arthritis, left shoulder glenohumbral degenerative arthritis, bilateral hand osteoarthritis, and bilateral knee, wrist, back, elbow, and hip disabilities manifested by pain are granted. The claim for secondary service connection for hypertension is remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The cervical spine, lumbar spine, right hip, left hip, and kidney disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome is currently rated at 30 percent from June 25, 2014, to December 2, 2019. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted for this period.

The appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder tendonitis is dismissed.,Service connection for a left wrist disability is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right hand, left hand, low back, toe (right foot), shin splints (left leg) and shin splints (right leg) disabilities due to inadequate examinations in 2017. The Veteran is requested to provide any private medical records related to his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed knee, wrist, and shoulder disabilities did not begin during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury. The evidence does not support his assertions of combat exposure or injuries sustained while deployed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for multiple joint disabilities, including left shoulder, right elbow, right wrist, cervical spine, low back, and left ankle disabilities. The AOJ is instructed to attempt to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records and complete a TERA Memorandum. Additional VA clinical records are also needed. A Gulf War examination should be conducted, and the Veteran should undergo multiple VA examinations for each of his claimed conditions to determine their etiology.

The Board dismissed the appeals to reopen claims for various disabilities due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically generalized anxiety disorder, is granted. The claims for fatigue and skin condition are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions considering toxic exposure risk activities.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU from June 1, 2018 to June 25, 2018. The Board is remanding this issue for further development.

The Board denied service connection for right and left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the evidence did not establish a link to active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for compensable ratings and service connection due to new evidence being submitted after the last decision. The RO will review this evidence and issue a supplemental statement of the case if necessary.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for a left wrist condition due to lack of new and material evidence.

The appeal for TDIU is moot due to the Veteran's 100% rating and special monthly compensation at the housebound rate. The left wrist ganglion cyst claim is remanded for additional development.