Wrist & hand decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to duty-to-assist errors. The issues include back, knee, and hand disabilities as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), left carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), right knee pain, and left knee pain. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were previously decided in a September 2021 rating decision, appealed to the Board in November 2021, and adjudicated by the Board in an October 29, 2024, decision. The appeal of these issues is dismissed.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disability (degenerative arthritis of the spine), right knee condition, right foot plantar fasciitis, left foot plantar fasciitis, and left shoulder disability are denied.

The Veteran's VR&E benefits were denied as he had overcome his employment handicap and was employable with a Bachelor's degree in Human Services. The VRC offered employment services but the Veteran chose to pursue a Master's degree instead.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate duty-to-assist compliance and need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, insomnia, and RUE carpal tunnel syndrome have all been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a current disability in any of these conditions.

The Board has found that the appellant does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, including for heart conditions, acquired psychiatric disorders (anxiety and depression), hypertension, cervical spine condition, bilateral shoulder conditions, elbow conditions, wrist conditions, hip conditions, knee conditions, ankle conditions, or foot conditions. The claims are being remanded to obtain appropriate medical examinations and opinions.,The Board has found that the appellant does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, including for heart conditions, acquired psychiatric disorders (anxiety and depression), hypertension, cervical spine condition, bilateral shoulder conditions, elbow conditions, wrist conditions, hip conditions, knee conditions, ankle conditions, or foot conditions. The claims are being remanded to obtain appropriate medical examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he requested to withdraw his appeals for various conditions and ratings.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is granted an effective date of November 4, 2002. The left wrist residuals of fifth metacarpal bone fracture and right elbow limitation of flexion are granted a rating of 40 percent as of April 4, 2003.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for PTSD and left wrist disability were denied as the earliest date of claim is not earlier than the dates of the respective decisions.,The Veteran filed her initial claims in December 2005 and June 7, 2002 respectively. The April 2019 and March 2017 rating decisions became final due to lack of appeal or new and material evidence within one year.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of outstanding service treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected painful right wrist scar was reduced from a 10% rating to a non-compensable rating, but the reduction is now void ab initio and her 10% rating for this condition has been reinstated. A 10% rating for her painful left wrist scar, status post carpal tunnel surgery, remains in effect since April 13, 2020.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to errors in the duty to assist, particularly regarding examinations and opinions related to the Veteran's right hand disability, eye disability, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of VA examination for the right wrist condition, which is necessary to determine its etiology and whether it arose during service or is otherwise related to any incident of service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, earlier effective dates, and disability ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right large toe status post-surgery claim is denied, while the chronic right wrist sprain and obstructive sleep apnea claims are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating of PTSD due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, specifically regarding the examinations provided in May and June 2022. The Veteran's right and left wrist disorders are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for chronic bronchitis cough was granted. The left wrist disability, acquired psychiatric disabilities (anxiety, insomnia, short-term memory loss and lack of concentration, social adjustment disorder with anger issues), bilateral pes planus, bilateral plantar fasciitis, vitamin D deficiency, hyperlipidemia, coronary heart disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and skin disability (shingles) were denied. The Veteran's upper respiratory infection(s) other than chronic bronchitis was not addressed in the decision.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a left wrist disability due to a duty to assist error in not requesting records from West Florida Medical Group.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability evaluation and service connection for his left wrist scar was denied. The Board found that the current noncompensable rating assigned under Diagnostic Code 7802 is appropriate given the small area of the scar, its superficial nature, lack of skin breakdown or inflammation, and absence of pain or instability.