Wrist & hand decisions — 2023

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left wrist disorders other than carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia, left and right hand disorders, left and right wrist disorders, and headache disorder (to include migraine headaches) is denied. The Board found no current diagnoses of these conditions in the record.,Service connection for TBI or residuals thereof was also denied as there were no findings or diagnoses of a head injury or related symptoms in service or post-service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining more current VA examinations and unassociated federal records. The Veteran's claims for higher initial disability ratings for right knee, left knee, and right wrist disabilities are being reviewed.

The petition to reopen the previously-denied claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder is granted. The petition to reopen the previously-denied claim for service connection for a right wrist disorder is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a left wrist disability, rating in excess of 10 percent for right ankle Achilles tendinitis, and rating in excess of 20 percent for left ankle Achilles tendinitis. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome and left carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has granted service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left hand and right hand, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service duties as a special operation engineer sergeant/ combat engineer.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations and a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for recurrent right wrist and hand disabilities, including carpel tunnel syndrome, and recurrent headache disabilities, including migraine and dizziness. The issues are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete evaluations and the need for additional examination. The TDIU claim will be held in abeyance until the increased rating claim is resolved.

The Board has denied service connection for right foot, left foot, and wrist conditions. The Veteran's bilateral hip and shoulder conditions have been granted.,Service connection was not established for the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's right wrist and hand disabilities, including CTS, arthritis, De Quervain's syndrome, and carpal instability, are related to a December 2002 motor vehicle accident during active service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's right wrist scar is rated at 10 percent, and no higher. The initial rating for his limitation of motion of the wrist remains at 10 percent.

The appeal for an increased rating for cervical degenerative disk disease with facet arthrosis and intervertebral disc syndrome is dismissed. The petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a right wrist condition is granted, but the appeal is only granted to this extent as the Veteran's representative requested withdrawal of the appeal regarding the increased rating issue.

The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity and cubital tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity are not considered secondary to service-connected lymphatic lymphoma.,Service connection for DJD of the left knee is granted as it is caused by service-connected lymphatic lymphoma. Service connection for osteoarthritis of the left elbow is also granted under the same reasoning.

The Veteran's claims for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist, neck disability, and left arm disability have been reopened due to new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claims for hypertension and HIV were not reopened as there was no new and material evidence provided.

The Veteran's sinusitis is granted service connection. The cervical spine disability remains at a 20% rating, but the lumbar spine disability receives a 40% rating beginning January 17, 2020. No other conditions receive initial ratings or SMC determinations.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for back, left knee, left wrist, and left shoulder disabilities due to inadequate VA medical opinions. Further development is needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's upper extremity symptoms, including numbness and tingling. An additional VA examination is needed to determine if these symptoms are related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for right elbow, left elbow, right knee, left knee, and right wrist disabilities due to insufficient examination findings regarding their etiology.