Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board has granted an increased rating of 30 percent for right wrist degenerative joint disease, effective as of the date of the decision.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hand and wrist conditions, as well as a cervical spine disability. The VA will seek medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of adequate medical examination, and further evaluation is needed to determine if the Veteran's right wrist carpal instability is related to his service.

The Board has decided to remand several claims for further development, including earlier effective dates and increased ratings for various conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection involving his bilateral ankles, wrists, shoulders, elbows, and knees are being remanded due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The claims will be reconsidered with the inclusion of new evidence or clarification from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's cervical spine, left heel condition, right heel condition, left ankle degenerative changes with arthralgia, left elbow condition, left and right plantar fasciitis, left wrist disability, and sleep disorder have been remanded for further development.,No specific rating has been assigned as the claims are currently in a 'remanded' status.

The Veteran's bilateral knee and wrist disabilities were initially granted service connection with noncompensable ratings effective April 29, 2016. The Board has granted earlier effective dates of April 29, 2016 for the 10 percent ratings assigned for each disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to duty-to-assist errors, including obtaining a VA examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's skin condition, migraines, and right carpal tunnel syndrome. The PACT Act is not applicable as it was enacted after the March 2020 rating decision.

The Board denied service connection for right and left wrist disabilities as there was no evidence of diagnosed conditions during or after service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 30 percent, which is the highest schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 8100. The ratings for left wrist CTS and right wrist CTS remain at 10 percent each.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to warrant readjudication of the previously denied claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, right shoulder, and right wrist disabilities. The AOJ is directed to obtain complete service treatment records and schedule an examination to address the nature and etiology of any current knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for left wrist neuropathy and a left elbow dislocation disability, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service injury. The appeal of the January 2021 rating decision is dismissed due to procedural defects.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30 percent rating for carpal tunnel syndrome, right upper extremity, is denied as it is not factually ascertainable that the condition worsened prior to April 3, 2024. The Veteran's claim for DEA eligibility is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, and right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome have been denied. The evidence submitted did not constitute new and relevant evidence to reopen the claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right wrist disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his back and associated radiculopathy disabilities, which require assistance with activities such as bathing, dressing, transferring, housekeeping, and meal preparation.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right foot fallen arches (claimed as flat feet) was denied due to the lack of evidence linking the condition to his military service.,Service connection for left elbow strain, left wrist strain, left hip disability, and left foot fallen arches were dismissed because there was no evidence presented in support of these claims.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided are inadequate for addressing the Veteran's secondary service connection claim. The case is therefore being remanded to obtain a new opinion.

The Board finds that there are pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors in this case and requires VA examinations and opinions to cure the errors. The Veteran's claims for PTSD, left leg and knee condition, left shoulder condition, left wrist condition, right knee condition, right shoulder condition, right wrist condition, and erectile dysfunction are pending.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues, including service connection for various conditions and a compensable rating for his right hand disability. The Board has remanded these claims due to the need for further development.