Wrist & hand decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the decision denying eligibility for PCAFC is not clear and does not provide adequate reasons or bases. The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder, sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), tension headache, left shoulder labral tear, wrist tendinitis, fibromyalgia, lumbosacral strain, knee pain, plantar fasciitis, tinnitus, TMJ capsulitis, dry eye syndrome, allergic rhinitis, scars, and psoriasis are considered. The Board has ordered remand to clarify the reason for denial and provide proper notice.

The Veteran's left wrist condition, which preexisted service, was aggravated by his military service and is now considered service-connected.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to incomplete or inadequate opinions regarding the relationship between the appellant's service-connected knee disabilities and her claimed disabilities. The VA must obtain additional medical opinions addressing whether the non-service-connected disabilities would have been less severe but-for the service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical evidence and a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The claims are related to carpal tunnel syndrome of the bilateral upper extremities and podiatry issues of the right foot, all presumed to be related to active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome, but denied service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome. The decision is based on the evidence showing a current diagnosis of right carpal tunnel syndrome during service and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

Effective December 6, 2021, a 50 percent rating for right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome is granted. Effective February 15, 2022, a 40 percent rating for left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome is granted.

The Veteran's right wrist condition is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding secondary service connection. The Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral ulnar neuropathy and migraine headaches are currently service connected, but the VA examiner did not address whether these disabilities were caused or aggravated by his service-connected finger injuries.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left wrist condition, left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), and a left middle finger injury due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his in-service hand injury.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for residuals of mild traumatic brain injury with post-traumatic headaches was denied. The evidence did not show that the condition resulted in Level 2 impairment, which is necessary to warrant a 40 percent rating.,The Veteran's application for TDIU was also denied as his service-connected disabilities alone do not meet the schedular criteria for individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obesity is dismissed as a matter of law. The Board also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial disability rating were denied. The Veteran was granted a temporary total evaluation, an increased rating of 10 percent for left hip limitation of flexion, and a 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5054 for residuals of right hip replacement from February 1, 2019. The Veteran's claims for SMC were also granted.

The Board has found that more development is necessary prior to final adjudication of the claims for service connection for right foot, bilateral ankle, bilateral elbow and bilateral wrist disabilities. The Veteran's service-connected psoriasis may be related to his current disabilities but further examination is needed to determine if they are caused or aggravated by these conditions.

The Veteran's right wrist arthritis is found to have begun during service and is considered etiologically related to in-service injury, warranting service connection for accrued benefits purposes.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance from January 15, 2021.,The Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities cause the need for aid and attendance of another person, leading to a grant of SMC based on A&A effective September 28, 2016.

The Board has remanded the claims of earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to January 10, 2013.

The Veteran's initial ratings for CTS of the right and left upper extremities have been granted, but his trigger finger claim is remanded due to a lack of opinion on secondary service connection. His lumbar spine disability has been granted based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraines and left wrist sprain were denied. The Board found that the increase in severity of her service-connected migraines was not ascertainable within a year prior to the receipt of her claim, thus denying an effective date prior to November 9, 2021, for the award of a 50 percent rating for migraines.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome (left hand) due to insufficient evidence in the record, including an inadequate VA examination.