Wrist & hand decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as she did not have a diagnosis of PTSD at any point during the period on appeal.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder pain and right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome were remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset and relationship to active duty.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted in October 2023 did not substantially comply with the January 2023 Board remand requests. Therefore, this claim must be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for anemia, colon polyps, joint disorder, urinary disorder, and menstrual disorder were denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to service.,There are no indications that the Veteran's conditions are related to her military service or any environmental exposures during her deployment in Southwest Asia.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for left carpal tunnel syndrome was denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating than the current 10 percent assigned.

The Board dismissed the service connection claims for depression, anxiety, right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, kidney condition, osteoarthritis, and right knee condition due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these issues during his hearing. The claim for hypertension was granted with a PACT Act presumption.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a procedural error in severing service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again with an addendum opinion addressing whether her left wrist condition is aggravated by her right wrist condition.

The Board has determined that the AOJ should have obtained another evaluation or additional clarification prior to making a decision on the Veteran's claim, due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The case is being remanded for further assessment of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their effects on his employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral hand/wrist disability and sleep disorder (insomnia) are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The AOJ is instructed to provide the Veteran with examinations to determine if he has these conditions, as well as opinions on whether they are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a left hand or wrist disability, and any carpal tunnel syndrome is not related to service. The claim for service connection for a left hand/wrist disability is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right shoulder strain with impingement syndrome, lumbosacral strain, De Quervain's tenosynovitis with left wrist strain, and left quadricep strain have been granted. The remaining issues of service connection for bilateral knee, left ankle, and cervical strain are being remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including left wrist, left thumb, left hamstring, neck, migraine, and GERD.,An increased rating of 30 percent for GERD with hiatal hernia, effective December 17, 2020, was granted. The Veteran's LUE radiculopathy and CTS were also granted an increased rating to 70 percent, effective the same date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and right carpal tunnel syndrome have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability has been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right wrist arthritis with post traumatic deformities and right knee degenerative arthritis was granted, with a rating of 10 percent effective April 8, 2013. The issue of the reasonableness of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in the July 2022 rating decision is remanded to the Office of General Counsel.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 10% disability rating for the left wrist ganglion cyst is denied. The current effective date of September 15, 2021, is not changed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and a need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including traumatic brain injury and PTSD, have resulted in the need for regular aid and attendance of another person. The Board finds it at least as likely as not that the Veteran is in need of such assistance due to his service-connected conditions.

The appeal concerning the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist and left shoulder condition has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death before the appeal was pending.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of residuals of rib fracture, umbilical hernia, and right wrist pain due to duty to assist errors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of his right wrist ganglion cyst, finding that there is no medical evidence to support a nexus between the current condition and an in-service injury.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability ratings for left and right foot hallux valgus have been denied. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for acute sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depressive disorder), a right hip disability, a left hip disability, a right wrist disability, and sciatica of the right lower extremity.