Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple conditions are being remanded due to a duty to assist error and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful employment, leading to the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were not of such severity to prevent him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation, and his TDIU claim was denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for head injury, finding no current disability and not related to service.,For right wrist condition, neck pain, lumbar strain (back condition), acquired psychiatric disability, and migraine headaches claims, the Board has remanded these issues due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left leg, right leg, right elbow, and right wrist disorders due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left wrist disability and associated scars was denied. However, he was granted a 40 percent rating effective June 11, 2018, and TDIU status as of December 1, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to a failure to obtain private treatment records and provide VA examinations prior to adjudicating the claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to the need for a VA examination regarding his erectile dysfunction, as well as an evaluation of his bilateral knee and wrist disorders without medication.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate secondary service connection opinion and the need for further development regarding obesity as an intermediate step in causing or aggravating sleep apnea.

The Veteran's primary, open-angle glaucoma and right wrist strain were evaluated. The rating for the glaucoma was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on incapacitating episodes or visual impairment. The rating for the right wrist strain was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and secondary service connection are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors. Specifically, the AOJ failed to consider VA treatment records from August 2018 to June 2021 and did not adjudicate a separate evaluation for left wrist condition as a complication of his service-connected left 5th finger condition.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and bilateral pes planus were dismissed. The appeal of his hypertension was granted with a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his heart disability and diabetes mellitus with nephropathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to their combined effects on his physical abilities.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic right wrist sprain, lumbosacral strain, a right knee disorder (right knee strain, meniscal tear, chondromalacia, and posterosuperior marginal patellar spur), left lower extremity shin splints, and right lower extremity shin splints. These conditions are considered to be directly related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service as a field artillery cannoneer.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction, left knee osteoarthritis, and residuals of left wrist fracture are granted service connection. The Veteran is awarded a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss but not for the left knee or left wrist conditions.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, PTSD, and other service-connected conditions have been granted. Claims for tension headaches, costochondritis, acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, bilateral shoulder disorders, ED, keloids, left hip disorder, ulcers, vision disorder, bilateral wrist disorders, cervical spine disorder, lumbosacral spine disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and gastrointestinal (GI) disorder other than ulcer have been denied. The case is REMANDED for further action.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, with effective dates ranging from March 21, 2023 to June 14, 2022. The conditions include carpal tunnel syndrome and bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension is found to be the cause of her left cubital tunnel syndrome and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. Her unspecified depressive disorder is rated at 50%.

The Board denied service connection for various ankle, hip, wrist, elbow, and shoulder conditions as there was no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury that caused the claimed conditions.