Wrist & hand decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of a right wrist fracture and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient examination findings and conflicting diagnoses. The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis is being evaluated as secondary to his service-connected back and right wrist degenerative arthritis.

The Board has found that the VA examination and addendum opinion were incomplete, as they did not consider the Veteran's diagnosis of early osteoarthritis of the right wrist. The case is being remanded for another addendum medical opinion to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed right wrist conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected left wrist disability does not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's tinnitus, right hand (wrist) joint pain, and migraines have been granted service connection.,Service connection has also been granted for the Veteran's mental disorder claimed as PTSD, depression, and insomnia.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his right hand disability, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and acquired psychiatric disorder claims. The Board requests addendum opinions to address the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for coronary artery disease, respiratory condition, diabetes mellitus type II, acquired psychiatric disorder, right hand condition, right wrist condition, and bilateral foot conditions due to inadequate VA examinations and missing service treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right wrist disability, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes mellitus, type II due to service exposure in Korea. The claims are being returned for additional development.

The Board has dismissed all claims related to the Veteran's service connection requests, as well as his request for a compensable evaluation for tinea versicolor. The appeals are dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues regarding notice and potential aggravation of carpal tunnel syndrome by service-connected conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the ratings and service connection issues related to his ankle, foot, wrist, and left foot conditions.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, and right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome as there was no evidence of a link to service.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as cervical spine disability. The cervical spine disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its onset during service.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the remand requests and has therefore remanded both issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for a left wrist disability and entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right wrist tendonitis is rated at 50 percent, but no higher. The Board found that the Veteran has functional ankylosis with ulnar deviation in his right wrist, warranting a 50 percent rating under DC 5214. For TDIU determination, as the Veteran does not meet the schedular threshold for a combined rating of at least 60 percent due to noncompensable ratings for other service-connected disabilities, and there is no evidence of unemployability solely due to his service-connected conditions, the claim for TDIU was denied.

The Veteran's hyperthyroidism is rated at 60 percent, but the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of specific symptoms such as tachycardia or eye involvement.,For the ganglion cyst, the Veteran was granted an initial evaluation of 10 percent prior to June 29, 2015. The issue of increased evaluation beyond this period is remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's right wrist and right shoulder disabilities due to inadequate previous opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for right wrist De Quervain's tenosynovitis and carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as isolated atrial premature contractions, mitral regurgitation, and sinus arrhythmia. The issues of entitlement to initial compensable ratings for left shoulder strain, left hip strain/sprain, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee degenerative arthritis are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and missing treatment records. The Veteran's neck, wrist, and hand conditions are to be evaluated by a VA examiner.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder, combined with other disabilities, has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted TDIU and SMC housebound effective August 21, 2012.