Wrist & hand decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's bilateral wrist disability began during service or is otherwise related to his military service, and therefore grants service connection for a bilateral wrist disability.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to various disabilities, including GERD and several musculoskeletal conditions. The initial rating for GERD was denied due to the lack of symptoms meeting a higher rating criteria. Other claims are remanded as there is insufficient information regarding the Veteran's service-connected periods.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including increased ratings for various knee and wrist disorders. The AOJ is instructed to consider any Social Security Administration disability benefits records in their review of these claims.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is due to his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, a lumbar spine disability, a left shoulder disability, a cervical spine disability, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. Obesity was a substantial factor in causing the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hyperthyroidism, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and left carpal tunnel syndrome are being remanded due to a duty to assist error. Additional medical opinions are needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions due to inadequate VA opinions and potential duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's claim for hepatosplenomegaly is denied as there is no evidence of this condition during or near the pendency of his appeal.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder is rated at 70 percent, effective December 30, 2021. Her right foot metatarsalgia and plantar fasciitis are rated at 20 percent, effective March 12, 2020. The Veteran's right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome remains at a 10 percent rating. TDIU is granted effective November 18, 2011, and Chapter 35 DEA is also granted effective that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and incomplete records. The Veteran is entitled to additional etiology opinions on his acquired psychiatric, respiratory, cardiac, vestibular, hearing loss/tinnitus, and orthopedic disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence was not received to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including back condition, right leg pain, left leg pain, depression, right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, and left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome. The decision is based on the evidence available at the time of the March 2022 supplemental claim rating decision.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence sufficient to readjudicate the previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for left wrist, right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities has been received. However, further development is needed as there are pre-decisional duty to assist errors in the current examination reports.

The Board has granted service connection for right-sided and left-sided carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were incurred during active duty.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection of right and left wrist disabilities due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The case is being sent back for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than May 4, 2021 for the award of service connection for unspecified bipolar and related disorder was denied. The claims for increased ratings for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity from May 20, 2019 to May 20, 2021 were also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance (SMC A&A) due to a lack of evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities rendered him so nearly helpless as to require regular aid and attendance from another person.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have started during service and has continued since, warranting service connection.,There is no evidence of a current hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations, thus denying the claim for bilateral hearing loss.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss.,The right wrist sprain disability claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The appeal is remanded for an audit of the Veteran's VA compensation benefits and to determine if he has been paid all his entitled funds from April 1, 2023 to September 1, 2023.

The Board denied service connection for right and left carpal tunnel syndrome, finding no evidence of chronic disability in service or within a presumptive period.,Service connection was also denied for tinnitus due to lack of evidence showing onset during service or within a presumptive period.

The Veteran's service-connected alopecia is manifested by thinning and severe hair loss on the crown, but without loss of all body hair. The Board finds that a compensable disability rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's service connected carpal tunnel of the right upper extremity is manifested by symptoms more closely approximating moderate incomplete paralysis. The Board finds that entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for this condition is denied.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, right shoulder, left shoulder, right wrist, left wrist, right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The Veteran's claims for service connection for libido disorder and PTSD were also denied.,There was no evidence of a verified stressor event for the Veteran's PTSD claim.