Wrist & hand decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete consideration of his right foot pain, myocarditis, ventricular arrhythmias, left foot disability, and right wrist disability prior to October 17, 2022. The AOJ is instructed to issue a SOC addressing these issues and provide an opportunity for the Veteran to respond.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, knee, hand, wrist, foot, and eye conditions, as well as a psychiatric disability (PTSD), are remanded due to insufficient evidence or need for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been withdrawn.,New evidence received since the last final denial supports reopening of claims for service connection.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for service connection for right and left shoulder conditions, right and left-hand carpal tunnel, lower back condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's tinnitus, left wrist disability, and right knee disability related to his service-connected ankle disability have been granted.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and left knee disability claims are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lung nodules, pneumonia, left hand carpal tunnel syndrome, and a left upper extremity condition due to herbicide exposure. Additional medical opinions are needed to address whether these conditions are related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran is currently employed as a police officer, which means he cannot meet the criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has found that the record is incomplete and requires additional service records to be associated with the claims file. The Veteran's psychiatric, low back, right wrist, bilateral foot, and sleep apnea disabilities are also remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed for the Veteran's right ankle condition and associated scar due to lack of discussion on flare-ups.,A new VA examination is also required for her back, right wrist, right knee, and left-hand scar conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for systemic skin rashes and chronic, systemic joint pain to multiple joints as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Crohn's disease and tinea pedis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee and left wrist conditions due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations. The Veteran's testimony regarding his service experiences is considered.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and a vocational assessment.

The Veteran's hypertension was granted service connection. The claims for blurred vision, right and left shoulder disabilities, right and left hand disabilities, periodontal disease, bilateral pes planus, unequal leg length, erectile dysfunction, hemorrhoids, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), allergic rhinitis, seborrheic dermatitis, and bilateral elbow and wrist scars were all denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no medical nexus between the claimed conditions and either active service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of PTSD was denied as the severity, frequency, and duration of his symptoms did not more closely approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.,Service connection for a left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, left wrist condition, low back condition, left leg condition, and left ankle condition were all denied due to lack of evidence showing these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus and plantar fascitis, PTSD, right wrist ganglion cyst with tendonitis, and left wrist ganglion cyst with tendonitis, do not render her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as unspecified anxiety disorder, unspecified depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder with chronic sleep impairment is granted secondary to service-connected tinnitus. The Board also found that the Veteran's hypertension, migraines, vertigo, left knee disorders (including left ankle sprain and right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis), right ankle disorders (including left ankle sprain and right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis), right foot disorders (including left ankle sprain and right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis), left foot disorders (including left ankle sprain and right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis), right leg varicose veins, and left wrist disorder are also granted secondary to service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus, hypertension, right wrist disability, and gout were not incurred or aggravated during his active duty service. The Board found the evidence does not support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.,GERD was also denied as there is no indication of its onset in service.

The Board has remanded the claims for sinusitis/allergic rhinitis, dry eye disability, right hand/wrist disabilities, back and neck disabilities, right foot/bunion, and left foot/toe bunion due to insufficient medical opinions addressing service connection.,The VA will obtain additional treatment records and provide addendum medical opinions on each issue.

The Board has decided that the claim for service connection for a left wrist disorder, to include as secondary to a left shoulder disorder, needs further development and is therefore remanded.