Wrist & hand decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the addition of new medical records since the last decision in February 2021. The Veteran was given an opportunity to have these records considered by the agency of original jurisdiction before the Board's consideration.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, left wrist disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's tinnitus, left wrist disability, and low back disability are all found to be related to service. The infertility and psychiatric disabilities are remanded for further development.,Issues regarding the infertility and acquired psychiatric disabilities are also remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including a lumbar spine condition, right and left knee condition, right and left wrist condition, right and left hip condition, right and left ankle condition, and bilateral pulmonary condition. The Veteran's claims are remanded to schedule him for a VA examination regarding his bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis s/p arthroscopy with posterior labral and repair and right wrist ganglion cyst were granted, effective March 5, 2019.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and some other conditions due to lack of evidence linking these disabilities to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal for these issues prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection is granted.,Service connection for PTSD is granted, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient reasoning and lack of adequate informed consent evaluation. The Veteran's right wrist disability is claimed as a result of a June 2010 VA surgical procedure, but there are conflicting medical opinions regarding causation and foreseeability.

The Veteran's service-connected traumatic arthritis, right wrist disability does not meet the schedular criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The evidence of record does not demonstrate that his service-connected disabilities alone were to a degree that they rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome as secondary to her service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left wrist disability and diabetes, rendered him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation as of September 7, 2021. The Board granted an effective date of September 7, 2021, for TDIU and DEA benefits.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, left hip disability, and left wrist musculoskeletal disability before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to assess the Veteran's employability prior to May 7, 2019, considering his service-connected disabilities and past limitations.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral ankle, elbow, shoulder, wrist, hand, hip, and knee disabilities due to toxic exposures during his service in the Gulf War.

The Veteran's service connection claims for COPD, OSA, HTN, and other conditions are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations to determine their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left wrist disabilities, to include carpal tunnel syndrome.,Service connection is also granted for bilateral foot condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various hand and wrist conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection of right knee strain, right hip disorder, and left wrist disorder. The claims are being remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for an earlier effective date for a right wrist disability due to the Veteran's withdrawal. The case is remanded for a new VA examination of the service-connected antisocial personality disorder with depressive disorder.