Wrist & hand decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, neck, right wrist, and left wrist disabilities due to a lack of consideration of all relevant evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to one service-connected disability, finding that he was not rendered unemployable based on only one of his service-connected disabilities. The decision is binding only with respect to this specific matter and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability.

The Board has granted service connection for left wrist tenosynovitis and right ankle strain, finding that these conditions are related to active service.,Service connection was denied for obstructive sleep apnea and a right shoulder disability due to the lack of evidence showing current disabilities or their relationship to active service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increase in the disability evaluation for residuals of left wrist ganglion cyst is denied.,An initial disability evaluation of 50 percent for migraine headaches is granted, and a higher evaluation of 50 percent is also granted. The appeal for an increased evaluation for migraine headaches is granted.,The Veteran's appeal for an increase in the disability evaluation for migraine headaches remains denied.,The Veteran's appeal for an increase in the disability evaluation for left forearm scarring status post stab wound is denied, and a compensable evaluation for superficial linear scars of the left forearm is also denied.,The Veteran's appeal for TDIU is remanded to determine if he qualifies for extraschedular TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's entitlement to a 10 percent rating for right and left Carpal Tunnel Syndrome was granted, effective from August 25, 2021. This decision is based on evidence showing an increase in symptoms of the condition starting around August 25, 2021.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, bilateral wrist condition, and bilateral foot pes planus are all granted as service-connected. The eating disorder claim is denied.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided to the Veteran was inadequate and remanded for a new examination. The issues of service connection for right hand degenerative arthritis and right wrist ulnocarpal impaction syndrome are being remanded due to the need for clarification on the nature and cause of the Veteran's pre-service condition.

The Board has granted service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome, right carpal tunnel syndrome, neck condition, back condition, and tinnitus. The decision is based on the Veteran's lay statements of symptom onset during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected Social Anxiety Disorder resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, but not total impairment. The claim for a higher rating was denied.,The Veteran met the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a bilateral wrist disability has been dismissed due to non-jurisdictional reasons, including the failure to file the proper form and timely withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial evaluation of his service-connected left wrist fracture (claimed as left wrist condition) was denied. The highest schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 5215 is 10 percent, which the Veteran has been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations. The appeals are now pending and need to be reviewed with new VA examinations.

The appeal seeking earlier effective dates for tinnitus, right wrist chronic sprain with limited range of motion, and OSA is dismissed.,The appeals seeking increased ratings for tinnitus, right wrist chronic sprain with limited range of motion, and OSA are denied.

The Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was granted increased disability ratings of 30 percent for the right upper extremity and 20 percent for the left upper extremity, effective from November 28, 2021.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the assignment of ratings for radiculopathy, wrist disabilities, and hip osteoarthritis have been dismissed as freestanding claims. The Board found that these claims lack legal merit.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of service connection for left wrist disability, right wrist disability, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity, carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an effective date prior to July 18, 2023, for his total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities. The Board found that the evidence did not establish an inability to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment throughout the period on appeal.

The Veteran's left thumb carpometacarpal arthritis is granted as service-connected. The right wrist disability and left shoulder disability are denied.

The Veteran's left wrist scar is not rated as compensable, and the Board has remanded his GERD claim due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection for right knee nerve damage cannot be established without a current diagnosis.