Wrist & hand decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, right wrist ganglion cyst, and denied service connection for left wrist disability and right wrist disability (other than ganglion cyst).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his heart condition and hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's timely filing of a VA Form 9, Appeal to the Board, in January 2021 was not properly considered due to an error by the AOJ in not mailing the March 2020 SOC to the Veteran's representative. As a result, the appeal is granted and the case will proceed with issuance of an SSOC.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, and he is granted entitlement to a TDIU. The increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and right knee tendonitis are denied.

The Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome is now rated at 70 percent, and his left carpal tunnel syndrome is rated at 60 percent. These are the maximum ratings available under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hip disability is aggravated by his service-connected knee and/or lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of hypoalbuminemia, and residuals of persistent recurrent upper respiratory infection (recurrent episodes of shortness of breath). The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for surgical scars of the left wrist is also denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal due to a change in representation, resulting in the dismissal of the case.

The Board has granted service connection for post-traumatic arthritis of the right wrist s/p carpectomy of the right trapezium, finding that it is related to the Veteran's prior ulna fracture and subsequent surgeries.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim for service connection for discogenic right sciatic radicular pain (partial paralysis right sciatic) as it was granted in a prior rating decision. Service connection was established for other conditions, including chronic sinusitis, PTSD, and various musculoskeletal issues, all presumed related to Southwest Asia service.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals regarding service connection for chronic anemia, chronic bilateral foot pain, bilateral myopia, and right wrist pain.

The appeal is granted for service connection of PTSD, extraction of 4 wisdom teeth, fractured rib, left ankle pain, left knee pain, left wrist pain, refractive eye surgery, and right shoulder bursitis. The appeals of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and entitlement to service connection for right shoulder bursitis are dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions were dismissed due to the death of the appellant during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected neurofibromatosis. The appeal regarding an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left wrist mass is remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues for further review, including increased evaluations for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and wrist disabilities. The Veteran's appeal is pending.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's left wrist sprain with de Quervain's syndrome and degenerative arthritis, as well as his left ankle traumatic arthritis. The decision on compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Board has determined that VA examinations are required to determine whether the Veteran's claimed disabilities are etiologically related to service. The claims for bilateral upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, C6 radiculopathy, knee disorders, and ankle disorders are being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back, neck, left wrist, right wrist, right knee, and right shoulder disorders. The appeal is allowed to that extent only.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist and hand conditions claimed as carpal tunnel syndrome, and dismissed the claims for left wrist and hand conditions claimed as carpal tunnel syndrome due to a full grant of benefits in a March 2021 rating decision.