Wrist & hand decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation for left wrist fracture with a history of tendonitis was dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to January 23, 2012 for the award of service connection for right wrist sprain with tenosynovitis is denied.,The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation for right wrist sprain with tenosynovitis.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to the evidence being at least in approximate balance that the Veteran's tinnitus began during military service and has been continuous since then.,Service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome (left and right) is denied because there is no current diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome or any other disorder of the wrists resulting in functional impairment.,Service connection for bilateral ankle osteoarthritis (left and right) is remanded as VA examination was not provided to address the Veteran's lay reports of chronic ankle pain that began in service and has continued since then.,Service connection for left knee osteoarthritis is granted due to the evidence being at least in approximate balance that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis had onset during active service, manifested within one year of separation from active service (by December 1998), or was otherwise caused by his reports of chronic knee pain due to active service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right wrist, left elbow, and left ulnar neuropathy disabilities are not secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability. The case is being remanded for further examination to address whether these conditions were aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for left wrist disability due to a duty to assist error, as there is insufficient evidence regarding the onset and etiology of his current condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for arthritis of the left 3rd finger and service connection for a left hand condition, including as secondary to the left 3rd finger fracture.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to inadequate retrospective medical opinions provided by VA examiners. The Veteran is required to provide additional information regarding his lumbar spine IVDS with degenerative arthritis, left wrist CTS with left upper extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded all issues on appeal due to the need for additional verification of the Veteran's service periods and incomplete records. The claims will be reconsidered with this information.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and initial ratings for various disabilities, as well as DEA benefits.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for the Veteran's post traumatic neuroma of radial nerve branch with median nerve neuropathy, right upper extremity. The case is remanded to determine if service connection should be granted for left carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board denied an effective date earlier than September 15, 2021, for the assignment of a 10 percent increased disability rating for the service-connected left wrist ganglion cyst.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of service connection for various conditions as there were no underlying initial claims that were appealable to the Board at the time of the Veteran's January 25, 2022 VA Form 10182.

The Veteran's costochondritis, cervical strain, right knee strain, and right wrist chronic sprain have been evaluated at the current levels. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for these conditions.,The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot, shin, cervical spine, ankle, elbow, hip, and extremity conditions have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a causal relationship to service.

The Board has decided that service connection for plantar fasciitis is denied. The remaining claims of service connection for allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, bronchitis with chronic cough, anxiety, depression, insomnia, headaches, acid reflux with nausea, benign prostatic hyperplasia with voiding dysfunction, kidney stones, cervicalgia, lumbago, sciatica, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral elbow epicondylitis, a left knee condition, and right knee strain are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD is granted pursuant to the PACT Act. The right wrist disability claim is remanded.

The Board dismissed the claims of service connection for various conditions due to a lack of an initial substitution eligibility determination by the AOJ.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depression and anxiety disorder, was found to be causally linked to his service-connected traumatic brain injury. His tinnitus was also granted based on credible reports of in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left wrist residuals with degenerative arthritis was denied. The VA determined that the current 10 percent rating adequately reflects his symptoms, including pain and limited motion of the wrist. Ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) and sciatic nerve were granted at 10 percent each.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right hip replacement, a right foot disability (including right toe gout and arthritis), left wrist carpal tunnel, and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is presumed exposed to burn pits during his Southwest Asia service.

The Veteran withdrew all pending appeals, including those for higher ratings and service connection.