Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus, left foot gout with hallux valgus, right foot gout with hallux valgus, left wrist degenerative arthritis with gout, right wrist degenerative arthritis with gout, left ankle degenerative arthritis with gout, right ankle degenerative arthritis with gout, membranous nephropathy, hypertension, left lower extremity varicose veins, and right lower extremity varicose veins.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in relative equipoise for the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as left and right upper extremity neuropathy (excluding carpal tunnel syndrome), thus granting these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current right wrist or left ankle disabilities and there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between his service and these conditions. The claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's asthma claim is dismissed as the AOJ has already granted service connection for asthma with an effective date of December 9, 2024.,Service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left hand is denied due to lack of in-service incurrence and no causal relationship to a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left wrist disability, finding that it was presumed aggravated by service and there is no clear and unmistakable evidence of its increase in severity due to natural progression.

The Board has granted service connection for various disabilities, including cervical spine disability, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right wrist disability, left wrist disability, right hand disability, left hand disability, chronic headaches, skin disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability (unspecified anxiety disorder, other specified depressive disorder, and somatic symptom disorder).

The Veteran's left upper extremity neuropathy, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and sleep apnea were denied as they are not related to his service.,Service connection was not granted for these conditions because the evidence does not show a nexus between the current disabilities and any in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and effective dates have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and left ulnar neuritis are at least as likely as not related to repetitive hand and wrist use during service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

Service connection for left wrist strain is denied. Service connection for left thumb strain and right thumb strain is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of evidence supporting the conditions prior to August 4, 2021.

The Board has determined that there are errors in the decision-making process related to the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right foot disabilities, as well as his left shoulder arthritis and left wrist condition. The AOJ is required to obtain additional medical opinions on these issues.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of June 22, 2019 for the award of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and bilateral leg swelling due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The VA failed to obtain private treatment records, so these are needed. A medical opinion is required to determine if the disabilities are related to the Veteran's in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his left wrist disability, right leg varicose veins, and right great toe ingrown toenail were denied. The Board found that the current assigned ratings are appropriate.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to inadequate examinations and duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors and remand the case for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment since June 30, 2018. The Board has granted a TDIU effective July 1, 2018.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to errors in duty to assist and need for additional medical opinions. The Veteran's pre-existing conditions are being evaluated, as is his current symptoms.