Wrist & hand decisions — 2024

The appeal for service connection and increased evaluation has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right wrist condition, finding that her current diagnosis is not related to her service-connected shoulder disability and there is no evidence of an interrelated cause between shoulder pain and wrist arthritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, carpal tunnel syndrome in the right hand/wrist, and carpal tunnel syndrome in the left hand/wrist due to inadequate medical opinions regarding secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of various disabilities, including hearing loss, psychiatric conditions, sleep apnea, GERD, ulcers, prostate issues, hyperlipidemia, neck, back, ankle, elbow, eye glaucoma, foot, hip, shoulder, wrist, and knee disabilities are being remanded due to incomplete records and need for further development.

The Board has determined that further evaluations are needed for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine, knee, and wrist disabilities due to unclear functional loss in motion reports.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2 and diverticulosis have been granted service connection. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, deviated nasal septum, left carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), and colon polyps are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left shoulder, spondylolisthesis (claimed as a back disability), and right wrist disabilities due to insufficient evidence addressing their etiology.

The Board denied service connection for left and right carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the Veteran's current upper extremity neurological impairment is not related to her neck disability or VA treatment. The claim was decided on the basis of direct service connection.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of left and right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome due to the Veteran's authorized representative withdrawing the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for asthma, increased disability evaluation for left wrist scar, and service connection for IBS are being remanded due to errors in the decision-making process.

The Veteran's increased ratings for his bilateral knee, feet, right hand, wrist, and index finger disabilities were granted effective March 17, 2021. The Board denied earlier effective dates prior to this date.,The Veteran did not file a completed claim seeking entitlement to an increased rating for any of the conditions listed prior to March 17, 2021.

The Board has granted service connection for right wrist, left wrist, neck, and right shoulder disabilities on a direct basis.,An initial compensable rating of nonallergic rhinitis is denied from April 1, 2022 to May 24, 2023.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left elbow condition due to errors in development and insufficient medical evidence on file. The case will be reviewed with an updated examination report, consideration of VA treatment records from January 2022 to February 2022, and opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left elbow condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome due to potential toxic exposure in service. The IBS with GERD claim is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional error and the need for additional evidence, including a VA examination and notification of the right to a hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's home modifications and equipment purchases are necessary to enable him to function more independently in his family and community without assistance, or with a reduced level of assistance.,However, additional equipment purchases and/or home modifications, such as an overhead cover for a wheelchair lift at the front of the home, a cover over the front walk, installation of a central air conditioning system, an addition to the home to include installation of a new bathroom downstairs, extension of the rear of the main bedroom to create space for a walk-in closet and a work-out room on the floor below; and creating access to an existing outdoor kitchen located near the pool area, are not necessary.,The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not necessitate these additional modifications.

Your appeal has been dismissed as the appellant requested to withdraw his appeal.

The Veteran's right median nerve impingement disability is granted a 30 percent rating, while his right wrist ganglion cyst remains at the 10 percent rating.

The Board remanded the claims for readjudication and further development, as new and relevant evidence had been submitted since the prior denials.

The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and a higher than 10 percent rating for bilateral foot porokeratosis in soles, metatarsalgia both feet. The claims for service connection for various disabilities were remanded.