Wrist & hand decisions — 2023

The Veteran's current left knee disability is related to his active service. The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a left knee injury.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical spine condition, right knee condition, left wrist condition, right shoulder condition, and left shoulder condition. The Veteran's other conditions have been rated based on their current severity.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right wrist residuals, including carpal tunnel syndrome and osteoarthritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot, ankle, wrist, elbow, and knee disabilities as well as a neck disability due to additional evidence being added to the record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer due to herbicide exposure is granted.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, bilateral upper extremity neurological disorders (likely carpal tunnel syndrome), and a disorder manifested by dizziness are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome were not incurred or aggravated during service.,There is conflicting medical evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current disabilities. The Board finds that the July 2022 VA examiner’s opinion is more probative on this question.

Service connection for hypertension is granted under the PACT Act due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction is granted as secondary to service-connected hypertension.,Service connection for sleep apnea is denied because it is not causally related to service-connected schizophrenia.,Service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome and left carpal tunnel syndrome are denied due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hand joint disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for Parkinson's disease and right CTS, finding that the evidence did not support a direct link to service or any presumptive exposure. The appeal was remanded for further development regarding right CTS.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of a right wrist injury, residuals of a right ankle sprain prior to March 26, 2019, and osteoarthritis of the right knee status post arthroscopic surgery have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for restoration of a 50% rating for osteoarthritis of the right knee status post arthroscopic surgery effective from October 28, 2011 has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to April 19, 2010.

The Board has denied the Veteran's appeals for service connection of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, arthritis of the left shoulder, arthritis of the back, right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, kidney condition, bladder condition, testicle condition, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The evidence received since the June 2014 rating decision is not new and material.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome due to insufficient evidence. The claim for acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination responses regarding the extent of range of motion attributable to carpal tunnel syndrome and whether electromyography/nerve conduction testing is needed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The claims for left wrist, right wrist, sinusitis, right knee, and left knee disabilities have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's GERD is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's right wrist disability, right hand disability other than tremor, left elbow disability, and left hand disability are all granted as service connected.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board has granted initial ratings of 50 percent for right CTS and 40 percent for left CTS, but the remaining issues are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, a psychiatric disability (claimed as personality disorder), an autoimmune disorder (claimed as lupus), a migraine disorder, and rheumatoid arthritis due to unclear periods of service.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided were inadequate to address the Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptomatology in service and post-service. Additionally, a new opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to active service. Finally, an opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's headaches are caused or aggravated by his tinnitus.