Wrist & hand decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for left thumb tendonitis but remanded the claims for a left-hand disorder other than tendonitis, diabetes, and erectile dysfunction due to potential issues with causation or aggravation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including back disability, right and left lumbar radiculopathies, wrist disabilities, nerve disabilities of the upper extremities, and elbow disabilities due to concerns about the competency of the VA examiners.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left wrist conditions, as secondary to his right knee disability due to insufficient medical evidence on whether the fall caused by his right knee condition resulted in injuries to his left knee and/or left wrist.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's claimed disabilities are related to his 2005 surgical treatment at a VA Medical Center, and if so, whether they were proximately caused by carelessness, negligence, or similar fault on the part of VA.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are granted, with hypertension being granted under the PACT Act presumption of herbicide exposure. Other issues remain pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for psoriatic arthritis of his bilateral wrists and ankles due to insufficient development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury and carpal tunnel in right wrist are granted. The claim for service connection for bilateral foot condition to include plantar fascitis is remanded due to inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran's headaches, right wrist disability, and obstructive sleep apnea are all remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and secondary service connection for his right foot, left foot, right wrist/hand, and left wrist/hand disabilities. The claims are being returned to the RO for additional development.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left wrist, right wrist, left knee, left ankle, and right ankle disorders have been granted.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for a neck disorder has also been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disorder, left arm disorder (other than left wrist arthritis), and right wrist disorder due to inadequate medical opinions. The claims are being returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his cervical radiculopathy with carpal tunnel syndrome were denied as the evidence did not show that the conditions warranted a rating in excess of the current assigned ratings.

The Board denied service connection for joint pain, muscle pain, weakness, fatigue, and left ulnar neuropathy (claimed as wrist disability) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's joint pain is attributed to rheumatoid arthritis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development on several issues, including service connection claims and rating determinations.

The Veteran's initial rating of 10% for the left wrist disability is denied, and a separate 20% rating is granted for right knee instability. The right knee meniscus disability receives a 20% rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, left hand numbness including carpal tunnel syndrome, and right hand numbness including carpal tunnel syndrome due to deficiencies in obtaining an adequate examination and opinion. The Veteran was exposed to dust and fire while deployed to Korea during his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to chemical exposure, as there are insufficient medical opinions provided. The claims will be reviewed with new medical opinions considering the Veteran's exposure to sarin and cyclosarin gas.

The Veteran's December 6, 2016 left carpal tunnel release surgery did not treat any of her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right wrist tendonitis and degenerative arthritis/joint disease with sacroiliac joint dysfunction of the lumbar spine.,Both conditions were rated under direct service connection criteria, as there is no indication that they are related to a specific exposure or presumption.

The Veteran's appeals for the propriety of reducing his disability ratings and entitlement to a higher rating have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of these claims.