Wrist & hand decisions — 2024

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist, right thumb, and skin disabilities of the bilateral elbows. The Veteran's current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether it had its onset during service.

The Veteran's claim for cancer of the urinary tract was denied as there is no current diagnosis.,Service connection for a 'veins and arteries condition' was also denied due to lack of a current disability.

The Veteran is granted higher levels of Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) at rates based on loss of use of both hands and need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board is remanding all service connection claims due to inadequate examinations and opinions, including those for heart condition, hypertension, bilateral foot condition, ankle conditions, elbow conditions, hip conditions, knee conditions, wrist condition, shoulder conditions, and TDIU.

The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome was improper and restored it, effective January 31, 2022.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her service-connected right wrist ganglion cyst and extensor pollisic tenosynovitis is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the October 2021 VA examination, which did not consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding flare-ups. The Board will schedule the Veteran for an updated examination to assess her current disability level.

The Veteran's TDIU is based on multiple disabilities, and asthma alone does not meet the percentage standards for a TDIU. The Board refers the claim to VA's Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration as to whether any individual disability might result in a TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep disability, right wrist disability, left wrist disability, and headache disability due to lack of evidence meeting VA compensation criteria. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's recurrent left wrist sprain residuals are service-connected. The remaining issues of service connection for various other disabilities have been remanded due to procedural errors.

Your appeals for service connection have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient efforts in obtaining a 2015 X-ray report related to the Veteran's right wrist disability. The matter is being returned for further review and consideration.

The Board has ordered additional VA examinations to evaluate the Veteran's bilateral wrist disorder, specifically focusing on the severity of her symptoms and range of motion from July 16, 2018, to the present. The examination is needed due to potential increase in disability following the last VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for arthritis of the joints, including as a qualifying chronic disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317, was denied. The appeal is also remanded for further development.

The Veteran's left arm disability, including his service-connected wrist weakness and carpal tunnel syndrome, is being remanded for further review due to procedural errors in the initial decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for various conditions have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss, and there was no service connection established for most of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to July 22, 2021, for service connection have been denied as the evidence does not show a complete claim was received within one year of the intent to file.,VA has also determined that an effective date prior to July 22, 2021, for SMC based on anatomical loss of use of the bilateral breasts is not warranted due to lack of service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical evidence and a need for further examination. The issues include respiratory, gastrointestinal, bilateral pes planus, headache, and wrist disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD, anxiety condition/sleep disturbances is characterized by reduced reliability and productivity. The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for the period from June 14, 2021, to August 8, 2023.

The Board has determined that the claims for tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder with drug abuse, left knee disability, right knee disability, left wrist disability, and right wrist disability are remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The claim for gout is also remanded.