Wrist & hand decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any of the claimed conditions, and therefore service connection is denied for all listed conditions.,The Veteran's claims are remanded for additional medical opinions regarding his left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a clear rationale in the previous opinions and new evidence submitted after the VA examination. A new examiner is needed to provide an opinion on whether any diagnosed right wrist disability, including CRPS, overuse syndrome, and chronic TFCC tear, is related to service.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective September 17, 2019. The Board denied an earlier effective date as there is no evidence of a prior increase in disability within one year before the application for increased rating.

The Veteran's left and right wrist carpal tunnel syndromes are granted service connection.,A compensable evaluation of 40 percent for the Veteran's right shoulder impingement syndrome and rotator cuff tendonitis is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome due to a lack of adequate opinion regarding the relationship between his current condition and active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and therefore his claim for TDIU was denied.

The Veteran's bilateral wrist disabilities have been rated at 10 percent for painful motion, but the evidence does not support a higher rating.,Service connection for cervical strain and memory loss (claimed as anxiety and stress) is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 12, 2020 for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied. The Board found that no portion of the increase in his service-connected disabilities occurred within one year prior to the date of his claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist strain and tinnitus were granted with effective dates of August 5, 2019. The claim for service connection for low back disability was remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's service connection claims for pseudofolliculitis barbae and sinusitis have been denied due to lack of current disability. The right wrist condition and low back condition are remanded as the VA examinations were inadequate.,Service connection cannot be granted for pseudofolliculitis barbae or sinusitis because there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disorder, migraine headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand, carpal tunnel syndrome of the left hand, right leg radiculopathy, and left leg radiculopathy. Service connection is denied for right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right foot disorder, and left foot disorder.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2013 due to service-connected disabilities. The effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits prior to February 1, 2015 is denied as the Veteran does not have a total disability rating during that period.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board has dismissed all issues related to service connection for various disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, kidney disability, and several other disabilities are denied. The Board has remanded the remaining service connection claims.

The Board has determined that the claims file is missing relevant medical evidence, including records from Dr. K.M., and therefore these claims are remanded for further action.

The appeal of the right wrist disorder claim is dismissed. The claims for cervical and/or lumbar spine disorder, diabetes mellitus Type II (DM II), respiratory/pulmonary disorder other than asthma and allergic rhinitis, cholecystectomy disease, and body joint pain are all granted.

Service connection is granted for cervical spine arthritis with IVDS and cervical radiculopathy as secondary to the service-connected cervical spine disability.,Service connection is denied for right carpal tunnel syndrome and left carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's right knee medial meniscus tear is rated at 10 percent, and the Board has denied an increased rating. The claims for service connection of a left wrist condition and low back condition are remanded due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder, asthma, and right wrist osteoarthritis are all granted service connection.,Service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (bipolar disorder) is established based on evidence showing its onset during active duty. Service connection for asthma is also established as it had its onset during active duty. Right wrist osteoarthritis is causally related to military service.

The Board has granted the restoration of disability ratings for right CTS, left CTS, and bilateral foot disabilities. The cervical spine disability issue remains pending.