Wrist & hand decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of proper notice and scheduling for VA examinations, which are necessary to determine if her right wrist fractures and right knee condition are related to or aggravated by her service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for right knee, left knee, right wrist, and left wrist disabilities due to the absence of current diagnoses during the relevant evidentiary window. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was remanded for further development, as was the back disability claim.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of right wrist osteoarthritis was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew their appeal before a decision could be made.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including right hand condition, right wrist condition, right lower sciatica, left lower sciatica, neck condition, and fibromyalgia. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (including persistent depressive disorder with anxious features) is granted.

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

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development due to incomplete VA examination reports and missing VA treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for a left hip condition as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability. However, it denied service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome as secondary to her service-connected left CTS.

The Board denied an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent for left and right carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) as the Veteran's symptoms have been mainly sensory with no muscle weakness or reflex changes, not approximating moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and RUE carpal tunnel syndrome were not reopened due to lack of new and relevant evidence.,Claims for effective dates prior to October 29, 2020, for a higher disability rating for bipolar II disorder with anxiety, depression, and adjustment disorder, compensable rating for migraines, SMC based on housebound criteria, and a higher disability rating for lumbosacral strain were denied.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection for various conditions due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities are being remanded due to the need to obtain her Reserve service records and provide TERA opinions regarding certain conditions.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction, right wrist sprain, and bilateral foot conditions/metatarsalgia have been granted service connection. The Board found the evidence in equipoise for these claims.

The Veteran's bilateral flat feet with right foot bunion and left foot bunionectomy are not entitled to a rating in excess of 50 percent.,Right foot hallux valgus is not entitled to an effective date prior to June 26, 2020.,Left foot hallux valgus is not entitled to an effective date prior to June 26, 2020.,Right foot hallux valgus is not entitled to a compensable rating.,Left foot hallux valgus is not entitled to a compensable rating.,Left hip trochanteric pain syndrome with limitation of extension and impairment of abduction are not entitled to an effective date prior to June 26, 2020.,Right knee chondromalacia patella and left knee chondromalacia patella are not entitled to a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter.,Post-operative scars of the knees are not entitled to a compensable rating.,Right wrist strain is not entitled to an effective date prior to June 26, 2020.,Left wrist strain is not entitled to an effective date prior to June 26, 2020.,Duodenal ulcer with duodenitis is not entitled to a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter.,Atopic dermatitis is not entitled to a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected musculoskeletal conditions with obesity as an intermittent step. The evidence shows that the Veteran's weight gain, which is a result of his service-connected musculoskeletal conditions, led to his diagnosis of sleep apnea.

The Veteran's asthma, bilateral hand carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, and left hip condition are not service-connected as they did not begin during active service or are not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's bilateral hand carpal tunnel syndrome is not service-connected as it was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected as it was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's left hip condition is not service-connected as it was not shown as chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, and was not noted in service with attributable continuity of symptomatology; and there is no evidence that the current disability is related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his right wrist disability was denied. The Board found that the current 10 percent rating adequately reflects the Veteran's symptoms and functional impairment.

The Veteran's asthma, bilateral hand carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, and left hip condition are not service-connected as they did not begin during active service or are not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's bilateral hand carpal tunnel syndrome is not service-connected as it was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected as it was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's left hip condition is not service-connected as it was not shown as chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, and was not noted in service with attributable continuity of symptomatology; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's asthma, bilateral hand carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, and left hip condition are not service-connected as they did not begin during active service or are not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's bilateral hand carpal tunnel syndrome is not service-connected as it was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected as it was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's left hip condition is not service-connected as it was not shown as chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, and was not noted in service with attributable continuity of symptomatology; and there is no evidence that the current disability is related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board denied service connection for several conditions, including right shoulder impingement syndrome, right wrist sprain, left wrist disability (claimed as pain), tumor, growth, cyst, and insomnia.

The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity is granted a 50% disability rating since January 3, 2021. His bilateral hearing loss is denied restoration of his previous 50% disability rating.