Wrist & hand decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are denied as there is no persuasive evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for various conditions, including right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, lumbar spine disability, left wrist disability, and right knee disability. The Veteran was previously granted service connection for these conditions in prior rating decisions.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, anxiety, depression, right shoulder disability, and right wrist disability are remanded due to the submission of new evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims. The Board finds insufficient competent medical evidence to adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for his acquired psychiatric disorders and right shoulder and right wrist disabilities.

Effective October 1, 2016, the Veteran's claims for lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD), left knee osteoarthritis, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, tinnitus, and right wrist ganglion cyst have been granted.,The effective date of service connection for traumatic brain injury with photophobia and cognitive deficits with posttraumatic stress disorder, posttraumatic headaches, and a right ankle condition is July 29, 2018.

The Board has denied service connection for left wrist and left knee disabilities, but granted service connection for a back disability. The claims for left wrist and left knee disabilities are considered 'mixed' as some issues were granted (back) and others not (left wrist and left knee).,Service connection was established for the Veteran's back disability based on direct evidence of injury during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a special home adaptation grant due to her lack of blindness, loss or use of both hands, severe burn injury, and an inhalation injury resulting in total disability.

The Board has granted restoration of the 20% disability rating for the right wrist disability from December 1, 2018. The claim for a higher disability rating is denied. Referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular TDIU prior to January 23, 2021 is denied. On a schedular basis since January 23, 2021, entitlement to TDIU is also denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient compliance with previous remand directives and factual inaccuracies in some opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right wrist condition and residuals of pneumonia due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a right leg Achilles tendon disorder, but denied service connection for other skin disorders and shin splints. The case is remanded for further examination regarding the left wrist and left knee conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ring finger with suture scar, bilateral upper extremity disability (including carpal tunnel syndrome, RUE radiculopathy, and tendinitis), and right knee disability as secondary to service-connected left knee disability. The claims are being remanded for further examination and medical opinions.

The Veteran's left wrist condition is currently rated at 10 percent for limitation of motion and a scar, but the Board denied an increased rating in excess of 10 percent due to lack of ankylosis or functional equivalent. The Veteran also has a compensable evaluation for his scar.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting findings in the October 2022 VA examination report regarding ankylosis of the right wrist. The Veteran's service-connected residuals right wrist fracture need further evaluation by a medical examiner.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's neck disability and her service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities. The VA must obtain complete treatment records from her National Guard/Reserve service and provide an addendum opinion on the etiology of her neck disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with no evidence of increased severity.,Service connection for chronic bronchitis has been granted based on presumed exposure to burn pits and other toxins (BPOT).,Service connection for restrictive lung disease/restrictive spirometry pattern was denied due to lack of a clear etiology related to service.,Service connection for an undiagnosed illness manifested by right wrist pain is granted, with the condition being presumed based on BPOT exposure.,Service connection for an undiagnosed illness manifested by right ankle pain is granted, with the condition also presumed based on BPOT exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The effective date of the award is March 22, 2018.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no earlier effective date sought or indicated by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's fibromyalgia and bilateral shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, knee, ankle, and foot disabilities did not have onset in service or until many years thereafter and are not related to service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been received, but further development is needed before a decision can be made.

The appeals seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss, increased ratings for right knee limited flexion and pain, right knee instability, left knee limited flexion and pain, and left knee instability have been dismissed. The appeal seeking to reopen the previously denied claims of service connection for a left ankle condition (claimed as secondary to service-connected right ankle disability), cervical arthritis, chronic anxiety disorder, and left wrist condition has been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle and wrist conditions, as secondary to his service-connected thoracolumbar spinal stenosis with back spasms; degenerative disc disease. Additional development is needed to determine if these conditions are caused or aggravated by the service-connected condition.