Wrist & hand decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to report for an examination and requests that he complete a VA Form 21-8940. The TDIU claim is also pending as the Veteran was not provided with a VA Form 21-8940.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of February 9, 2012 for the assignment of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's left knee limitation of extension is currently rated as noncompensable, with no evidence showing it limited to 10 degrees or less.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a service connection for a cervical spine disorder. The Board finds that the Veteran did not have a cervical spine disability during his active service and there is no competent evidence of record showing its onset within one year post-service.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection for joint pain, specifically low back, bilateral hips, right knee, and right wrist due to insufficient evidence regarding a direct relationship to in-service duties. Additional development is needed to address whether the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his exposure on concrete and steel decks during service.

The Veteran's appeal for avitaminosis, also claimed as weight loss, has been dismissed. The claims for service connection for various disabilities have been remanded due to the need for additional development of his service records and outpatient treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Left Carpal Tunnel Syndrome due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a cervical spine condition and right wrist condition due to inadequate VA opinions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, with one potentially related to his service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's appeals regarding her right wrist ulnar neuropathy have been remanded due to a request for withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right wrist osteoarthritis and left wrist radial fracture with dislocation, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on functional loss or ankylosis.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to January 14, 2017 was denied as he had substantial and gainful employment. The Board remanded the case due to a potential issue with service connection for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome is dismissed. The appeal to reopen his right shoulder disorder is granted, but the case is remanded for further examination and development regarding his left shoulder disorder.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an addendum VA opinion to determine if the Veteran's right wrist disability and bilateral shoulder disabilities are related to service.

The Board granted an effective date of January 23, 2008 for the award of service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's initial informal claim was dated on this day and VA recognized it as a request for benefits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, including right wrist strain. The Veteran is required to undergo a VA examination to assess his current level of impairment with regard to his service-connected right wrist disability.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and remanded the issues of service connection for eye impairment and left wrist impairment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left ankle and left wrist disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in previous VA examinations. The Veteran contends his current conditions are related to service, but the VA examiners found no evidence of a direct connection.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. His right knee disability, characterized as a torn medial meniscus, was not rated higher than 10 percent. His back disability, characterized as degenerative arthritis of the spine, also did not warrant an increase beyond 10 percent. Service connection was denied for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and sleep condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, ratings, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and further evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical examination and opinion regarding service connection for a right wrist/arm disability. The Veteran needs to be provided with a new VA examination that considers whether any other current disability of the right arm or wrist is related to service, including the November 1995 crush injury.