Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for right wrist and left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service event of typing on a computer all day during his military service.

The Veteran's attempts to appeal increased ratings for COPD and a right wrist sprain were dismissed as untimely.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip, shoulder, wrist, and ankle disabilities. The conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left wrist disability and depressive disorder, finding that these conditions began in service and have continued since then.

The Board has granted service connection for respiratory disability (COPD), left hand disability (carpal tunnel syndrome), and right hand disability (carpal tunnel syndrome) due to the Veteran's credible testimony of symptoms during service, medical records confirming diagnoses, and the absence of any evidence contradicting a direct relationship between his military service and these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The Veteran's claim is being readjudicated.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left ankle or right wrist disability, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to duty-to-assist errors, including the failure to obtain private treatment records and employment information from his employer. The issue of mootness regarding the combined 100 percent rating for service-connected disabilities was not addressed.

The Veteran's left knee meniscus tear was diagnosed during active duty service and is granted as service connected. The other claims for orthopedic wrist, hand, shoulder, right knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities are denied.

The Board has dismissed all claims as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of bilateral hearing loss. The Board found new and relevant evidence to support reopening these claims.,Service connection has been established for tinnitus, right hand carpal tunnel syndrome, left hand carpal tunnel syndrome, right foot disability, and skin disability.

The appeal of the right knee disability claim is dismissed as it was deferred in a previous rating decision.,The appeals for back and neck disabilities are dismissed because service connection has been granted during the pendency of the appeal.,Headaches, right wrist, and right ankle disabilities are denied due to lack of current diagnoses.,Left knee and left ankle disabilities, erectile dysfunction, and tinnitus are remanded as there is insufficient evidence or inadequate opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for right and left carpal tunnel syndrome. The Board also granted the Veteran's requests to readjudicate claims for service connection for residuals of a TBI, migraine headaches, and a neck disability.

The Board denied all claims for earlier effective dates, finding that the earliest possible effective date for service connection is April 11, 2019.

The Veteran's right upper extremity carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndrome with polyneuropathy was rated at 40 percent from October 22, 2018 to January 13, 2020. The Board denied an increased rating greater than 40 percent for the period prior to January 13, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral trigger finger and carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as a rating of 30% for asthma. The decision is based on the Veteran's competent lay statements regarding her symptoms during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis, bilateral elbow nerve damage, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome must be remanded due to a failure to provide a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to revise a January 2015 rating decision that granted service connection for bilateral wrist condition with an effective date of October 13, 2011, due to lack of evidence showing new and relevant STRs were associated with his claims file after the original denial in March 1999.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for right median neuropathy was denied. A separate rating of 10 percent, but no higher, for right wrist arthritis was granted.