Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for right knee chondromalacia medial femoral condyle with acute bursitis, left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, and right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome are denied.,The Board found that the supplemental claim received by VA on January 5, 2024 constitutes the date of claim for these conditions. The effective dates cannot be earlier than this date due to the final nature of previous decisions.

The Board has found new and relevant evidence to warrant readjudication of the claims for service connection for various conditions, including arthritis, back; bilateral fingers; bilateral toes; bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome; diabetes mellitus, type II; sleep apnea; and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as 'phobias').

The Veteran's hair loss and some other conditions are granted service connection, while the right hand disability is denied. The Veteran also has a new rating for his low back condition.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left wrist disability is granted, with the maximum available rating of 50 percent.,The appeals for a compensable rating for the service-connected left wrist scar and an earlier effective date are dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral knee conditions, pes planus, bilateral shin splints, and tinnitus due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors. Additional evidence is needed from VA.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating due to occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.,The Veteran's right wrist strain is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board found no evidence supporting an increase in this rating.

The Board has determined that the evidence is insufficient to establish service connection for cause of death and remands the case for further development.

The Board has remanded several issues, including earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings. The Veteran's left wrist degenerative arthritis and right elbow lateral epicondylitis were granted in December 2021.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right hand condition. The case will be reviewed again with a new opinion from an appropriately qualified clinician.

The Board has determined that there are duty to assist errors in the right and left wrist issues, as well as the right hand or fingers tendonitis issue. These errors include obtaining medical opinions prior to the relevant rating decisions on appeal.,The Veteran's service connection claims for his wrists and hands have been remanded due to a lack of adequate rationale regarding whether his conditions had their onset in service or are otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for degenerative arthritis left wrist status-post fusion with residual scar was dismissed as untimely.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for his left wrist fracture is granted at a 10 percent level, effective from the date of claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hand and finger disabilities, right hand and finger disabilities, left wrist disability, and right wrist disability due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Veteran's service connection for a right wrist sprain is granted. The initial rating for PTSD remains at 30 percent, and the claims for CFS, fibromyalgia, functional abdominal pain, dermatosis of the eyelid, dermatosis of the ear, right knee instability, left knee instability, right foot pain, and left foot pain are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle gout, right ankle gout, left knee gout, left wrist gout, and right wrist gout. The Veteran's claim for right knee gout was incorporated into an already service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an anxiety condition was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her appeal.,Service connection is granted for bilateral tinnitus, with a grant subject to laws and regulations governing payment of monetary benefits.,Service connection is granted for left hip strain, with a grant subject to laws and regulations governing payment of monetary benefits.,Service connection is granted for carpal tunnel syndrome (left wrist condition), with a grant subject to laws and regulations governing payment of monetary benefits.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD) and ovarian cysts remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has granted initial ratings of 30 percent for right carpal tunnel syndrome and 20 percent for left carpal tunnel syndrome, both based on moderate incomplete paralysis of the median nerves.

The Veteran's claim for multiple clothing allowances for the calendar year 2023 is remanded due to missing records. The AOJ needs to reconstruct and associate all relevant documents with the claims file.

The Veteran's initial claims for increased ratings and secondary service connection have been denied. The Veteran was granted secondary service connection for a left knee scar and left carpal tunnel syndrome.