Wrist & hand decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for right and left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome on a direct basis, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions had onset in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left carpal tunnel syndrome were denied. The Veteran was also denied increased ratings for PTSD, right carpal tunnel syndrome, tinnitus, and a scar due to carpal tunnel syndrome. The appeal is remanded for entitlement to service connection for a right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain.

The Board dismissed the appeal for entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for left chronic wrist sprain with triangular fibrocartilaginous complex (TFCC) injury and lunate bone fracture due to the appellant's withdrawal.

Prior to June 18, 2021, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. As of June 18, 2021, his single service-connected disability did not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's death was not caused by or related to his service-connected disabilities. The appellant is denied DIC benefits, survivors pension benefits, and accrued benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, right carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), left CTS, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, a kidney disorder, and right ear hearing loss. The Board found that there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology related to these conditions.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for psychiatric disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, gastrointestinal disability, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral knee disabilities are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability may have caused or aggravated his claimed left knee, right shoulder, left shoulder, and right wrist disabilities. However, further examination is needed to determine if these conditions are currently diagnosed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to new evidence being added to his case file and because of the need for updated VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral inguinal hernia and bilateral CTS have been denied. The Board has also remanded the claim for a bilateral foot disability.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including bilateral vision loss, hearing loss, psychiatric disorders, tinnitus, right neck lesion, shoulder disabilities, carpal tunnel syndrome and wrist pain, lumbar spine disability, colon disability with associated abdominal scar, and foot disabilities. The reasons given include lack of evidence showing the conditions were present during or within one year after service, no credible link to service, and failure to show continuity of symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and psychiatric disorders, cervical spine disorder, back disorder, elbow disorders, wrist disorders, shoulder disorders, hip disorders, ankle disorders, and foot disorders. The decision was based on the lack of evidence showing a direct link between these conditions and military service.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, including right and left wrist disabilities, gastroesophageal reflux disease with hiatal hernia, irritable bowel syndrome, chest pain, and gallbladder disability.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including neck, shoulder, hip, wrist, thumb, psychiatric disorders, foot pain, flatfeet, hearing loss, and knee conditions due to lack of evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrences.,Service connection was not granted as the Veteran did not provide sufficient evidence of a current disability.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to incomplete records. The VA must attempt to obtain all relevant medical records, including those from the Louisville VAMC from January 2012 through March 2022.

The Board has granted service connection for right upper extremity and left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during active service and continued after discharge.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for wrist, knee, and elbow conditions on the grounds that there is no current diagnosis of a disability in question.

The Veteran's claims for compensable ratings for tinea pedis and right wrist dermatitis have been denied as the evidence does not show that his skin conditions meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA Rating Schedule.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disorder, depression, and chest pain as there is no persuasive medical evidence of current disabilities related to these conditions.,Specifically, the Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of arthritis of the right hand and arthritis of the right wrist due to the Veteran's death.