Wrist & hand decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to errors in obtaining relevant medical records and conducting adequate examinations, which could have led to a more favorable outcome for the Veteran.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have any right and left hand, wrist, shoulder, knee, hip, neck, or back disorders during service. The post-service medical records do not show a continuity of symptoms for these conditions until at least 21 years after service ended. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's asthma, right hip disorder, right shoulder disorder, right index finger condition, left wrist disorder, RUE CTS, and LUE CTS are all being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, in combination, rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation as of August 10, 2019. As such, the Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's bilateral upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome is rated at 30 percent for the right hand and 20 percent for the left hand, reflecting moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in verifying his periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA.

The Veteran's left hand carpal tunnel syndrome was granted a 20 percent disability rating from November 1, 2017 to January 15, 2020. From January 16, 2020 forward, the Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating was denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right shoulder, left arm, left wrist, and left foot disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for an assessment of his employability in light of service-connected disabilities prior to March 18, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of a sternum fracture and scars from abrasions on the right shoulder and wrist were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist tendinitis, cervical spine strain, and radiculopathy of the right upper extremity were denied as VA did not receive his claim prior to September 11, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions were dismissed as he did not comply with proper claims processing rules, including failing to submit a valid RAMP Opt-in or timely notice of disagreement.

The Board has denied service connection for right wrist condition, left wrist condition, chronic residuals of an appendectomy, and infectious mononucleosis, claimed as chronic immune disability. Service connection is granted for chronic irritable colon syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right wrist condition, left knee chondromalacia patella, and right knee chondromalacia patella are all rated at the maximum allowed under current criteria. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability was also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional error in not obtaining his complete service personnel records for his period of service in the Navy Reserves. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all Reserve treatment records, specifically any medical records, pertaining to his service in the Army Reserve from October 2008 to April 2013.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are not resolved in his favor, necessitating further examination and review.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lower back, neck, left shoulder, and left wrist disabilities due to insufficient reasons or bases in the previous decision. The issues are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with scheduling a VA examination for the Veteran's left wrist disorder and chronic regional pain syndrome of the left upper extremity. The claim is being returned for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral elbow disability and a bilateral wrist disability, finding that the evidence is at least in relative balance for a finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has granted a separate 30 percent rating for right hand carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) effective from November 16, 2022. The Veteran's CTS is associated with his Dupuytren's contracture.