Wrist & hand decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and failure to schedule an EMG. The Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome is currently rated at 30 percent, but she contends her condition warrants a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus and a right wrist disability due to insufficient compliance with prior remand instructions.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal for all issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on his service-connected left wrist fracture, lumbar strain, left hip bursitis, and degenerative changes to the left knee are being remanded due to a lack of recent VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting a VA examination. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include PTSD, major depressive disorder, cervical strain, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with thoracic scoliosis, hemorrhoids, left knee strain, tinnitus, painful left foot scar, degenerative joint disease of the left foot with hallux valgus, Crohn's disease status post colectomy, and a right leg condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease, left wrist condition, left hand condition, and left hip condition due to incomplete or speculative medical opinions. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal to increase his rating for right carpal tunnel syndrome was withdrawn, and the Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder impingement and degenerative AC joint disease, right eye disability (retinal disorder, cataracts, blepharitis, dry eye syndrome, macula scars of posterior pole), 4th and 5th left toe stress fracture residuals, and cervical spine disability. Service connection was denied for a right wrist/hand disability and left knee disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that there is no evidence linking the condition to his military service or any presumptive exposure. The Board also found that the condition was not secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the issues by the Veteran. The remaining issues are remanded and will be addressed further.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee, right ankle, right hand, and right wrist disorders due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, right wrist, and left shoulder disorders due to a lack of competent evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding her claimed skin disorder, right foot disorder, bilateral breast masses with chronic pain, right wrist disorder, gynecological disorder, respiratory disorder, and Raynaud's syndrome. The Veteran will need updated VA examinations to determine if she has these conditions and whether they are related to her military service.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is currently rated at 10 percent for degenerative arthritis, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as there is no evidence of ankylosis or other conditions that would allow for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as none of her service-connected disabilities, alone, are severe enough to prevent her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims for various conditions. The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left wrist ganglion cyst is denied as he is already receiving the maximum schedular rating.

The Veteran's right upper extremity radiculopathy with carpal tunnel syndrome is rated at 40 percent since February 6, 2011. The Veteran's left upper extremity radiculopathy remains rated at 30 percent from August 19, 2016.

The Board denied entitlement to an extraschedular rating for right and left knee disabilities prior to the specified dates due to the adequacy of the assigned schedular ratings.,The Veteran's claim for SMC at the housebound rate was denied as he did not have a single service-connected disability rated at 100% or multiple disabilities independently rated at 60%, nor was he permanently housebound.

The Veteran's right hand and left hand carpal tunnel syndrome are granted service connection.,The Veteran's arthritis of the right hand and left hand is also granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder, bilateral wrist, and bilateral knee disorders due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran testified about his in-service symptoms and self-medication practices.