Wrist & hand decisions — 2023

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on all issues related to service connection and increased rating for various hand and wrist conditions. The Board dismissed the appeal due to the withdrawal of claims by the Veteran.

The Veteran's initial rating claims for right and left ankle fractures, as well as degenerative arthritis/IVDS of the cervical spine have been denied. The Veteran is currently receiving a non-compensable (zero percent) rating for his service-connected ankle disabilities.

The claims of entitlement to service connection for left wrist and right wrist disorders have been dismissed as the Veteran's service-connected conditions were granted.,A rating in excess of 30 percent prior to April 25, 2017, for bronchial asthma, and in excess of 50 percent from April 25, 2017, for sleep apnea with bronchial asthma has been remanded.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, headaches, right ankle disability, left wrist disability, diabetes mellitus type II, and kidney disorder is granted. The effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is set at October 9, 2009.

The Board has ordered additional VA examinations to address inconsistencies in the Veteran's right wrist and knee disability ratings, as well as a remand for consideration of TDIU prior to January 19, 2010.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings for various conditions have been dismissed.,A claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened, but the matter is still pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a low back condition, bilateral knee and foot conditions, left ear hearing loss, an eye condition (dry eye syndrome), a skin condition (psoriasis), a thyroid condition, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left parapharyngeal space mass, a salivary gland disorder, and bilateral tenosynovitis of the wrists.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are currently pending due to remand orders.

The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The claim for bilateral wrist disability is denied as new and material evidence was not received. The claim for PTSD is reopened and granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a right knee disability, right wrist disability, and hernia due to inadequate medical opinions in previous VA examinations. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a disability manifested by swollen joints, finding that her current condition is not related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has denied service connection for a left wrist and hand disability, including as secondary to a service-connected left ring finger disability. The Veteran's current diagnoses of left ulnar styloid process fracture, left hand arthritis, and left wrist osteoarthritis are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's residuals of a left wrist fracture are rated at 10 percent, the highest possible rating under the applicable VA Rating Schedule. The Board finds that no higher rating is warranted as there is no evidence of ankylosis or other conditions that would justify a higher rating.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal, including the reopening of multiple service connection claims. The Board dismissed the appeal due to the withdrawal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy with CTS of the upper extremities and lower extremities, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to November 17, 2022.

The Board denied service connection for left wrist, right wrist, left knee, right knee, and neck disabilities as the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and active military service.

The Veteran's claim for left upper extremity CTS as secondary to his burn injuries is granted. The request to reopen a previously denied diabetes claim is denied, and the restoration of ratings for LUE burn scars from October 1, 2015 is granted.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for lower back disability, ankle disabilities, knee disabilities, and wrist disabilities. The reasons for remand include the need for additional medical opinions due to insufficient nexus opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including cervical strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine, right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right and left carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, basilar skull fracture, and status post tympanoplasty, are being remanded for further evaluation due to lack of recent VA examinations.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted as service-connected due to its onset during active service and aggravation by her service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's asthma is granted as service-connected due to its manifestation within the 10-year presumptive period following separation from active service in Afghanistan.,The Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is granted as service-connected due to its onset during active service.,The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is not addressed by VA examination and requires further evaluation.,The Veteran's chronic bilateral ear disorder is not addressed by VA examination and requires further evaluation.,The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity nerve damage, to include as a result of a service-connected disability, is not addressed by VA examination and requires further evaluation.,The Veteran's bilateral upper extremity nerve damage, to include as a result of a service-connected disability, is not addressed by VA examination and requires further evaluation.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, to include as a result of a service-connected disability, is granted as service-connected due to its aggravation by her major depressive disorder.,The Veteran's chronic headaches are granted as service-connected with an increased rating required based on the frequency and severity of attacks.,The Veteran's lumbar spine spondylosis at L5-S1 prior to September 25, 2019 is granted as service-connected with a higher rating required after that date.,The Veteran's cervical spine osteoarthritis prior to September 25, 2019 is granted as service-connected with a higher rating required after that date.,The Veteran's right knee medial compartment osteoarthritis is granted as service-connected with a higher rating required based on the severity of symptoms.

The Veteran's right wrist disability was previously rated at 10 percent prior to November 10, 2015. The Board has remanded the case for further development and rating consideration.