Wrist & hand decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities are being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The Veteran failed to report for VA examinations and the Board finds she demonstrated good cause for missing them.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome and right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions. The Board also found no continuity of symptoms after service.

The Board has denied service connection for left and right carpal tunnel syndrome. The appeal for a bilateral foot condition (claimed as plantar fasciitis) is remanded.,Service connection will be granted if the Veteran can show that his current disability was incurred or aggravated by active duty.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, brain tumor, and headaches have been granted. The service connection for left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left wrist disability, and right wrist disability are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the decision, including a lack of a nexus opinion linking the Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome directly to his service.

The Board has decided that there is not enough evidence to determine if the Veteran's current right wrist condition is related to service, and therefore remands the case for further examination.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected right and left carpal tunnel syndromes, finding that his symptoms did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent. The Veteran was also granted TDIU due to multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board has waived the 60-day timeliness requirement for filing a substantive appeal and accepted the March 2020 VA Form 9 as timely. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating, service connection, and TDIU are all granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial evaluations for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome were granted, with effective dates set at the date of receipt of the original claim on June 18, 2009. Initial evaluations of 20% and 30% were assigned for left and right hand carpal tunnel syndrome, respectively.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD, anxiety, and depression), allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, left elbow disability, right elbow disability, neck disability, colostomy, diverticulosis, bilateral foot condition, heart disability, hemorrhoids, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left wrist disability, right wrist disability, back disability, colon polyps, prostate disability, and vertigo were denied as there is no evidence of current diagnoses or a causal relationship to service.

The Board has denied service connection for a back condition and remanded the right wrist condition due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome due to a duty to assist error in obtaining relevant private treatment records, including from non-VA providers and surgical records. The Veteran's representative argued that the June 2021 VA medical opinion was inadequate.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various peripheral neuropathy conditions associated with diabetes mellitus type II are being remanded due to the need for further examination to address his claimed loss of use and quadriplegic incomplete status.

Service connection for various conditions including bilateral shins, left ankle, left arm and elbow, lower back pain, neck pain cervical spine, rhinitis, right ankle, right arm and elbow, right hand, right hip, right shoulder scar, right wrist, sinusitis, sleep apnea, vertigo has been denied.,Service connection for tinnitus was also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors, requiring additional development and examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including allergies, right ankle disorder, left elbow disorder, right hand disorder, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right shoulder disorder, and left shoulder disorder are all denied. The Veteran is not entitled to a rating in excess of 10 percent for his tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of service connection for left hand disability, left wrist disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist strain, left shoulder condition, and sleep apnea due to a duty to assist error. The VA is required to provide an adequate examination or medical opinion in cases where there is evidence of a current disability or persistent/ recurrent symptoms that may be associated with service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including generalized anxiety disorder, GERD, IBS, rhinitis, sinusitis, dry skin/scars, a bilateral breast condition, pulled groin, vaginitis, irregular menstruation, cervical spine condition, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, lower extremity nerve damage, ankle strain or Achilles conditions, and foot plantar fasciitis. The effective date for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder is denied prior to December 1, 2021.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left ear hearing loss disability is dismissed as the claim has been fully granted in a previous rating decision.,The appeals of right and left upper extremity neurological impairment (numbness) are dismissed due to jurisdictional defects. The issues were not properly appealed within one year of the March 2011 rating decision denying service connection for these conditions.,The appeal of vision disability is dismissed as refractive error, which is not a compensable condition under VA compensation laws.