Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for various conditions, including back condition, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, right ankle condition, ganglion cyst, GI condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The appeals are granted to this extent.

The Board has remanded several issues for readjudication due to the submission of additional evidence since the last decision. The Veteran is requested to waive AOJ consideration of this new evidence.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the claims for prostate cancer, hearing loss, and left wrist fracture before a decision was made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right carpal tunnel syndrome should be remanded due to a failure to reschedule her for a VA examination. The Veteran is not entitled to an increased rating for her service-connected vertigo, as her symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 6204 or Diagnostic Code 6205.

The Veteran's appeal for higher level review of the September 2018 rating decision was denied due to being untimely.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including those for right wrist laceration residuals, back disability, pseudofolliculitis barbe hyperpigmentation residuals, diabetes, sleep apnea, and a right hand injury. The decision also mentions that VA should attempt to obtain Social Security Administration records relevant to the Veteran's claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist condition, left wrist condition, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and tibial neuropathy of the right knee and lower foot are being remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for scar, status post desmoid removal is being remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to January 23, 2017 is being remanded.

The Board has granted an effective date of July 15, 2013 for the award of Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The portion of the decision that dismissed entitlement to an earlier effective date prior to December 6, 2016, is vacated.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the eligibility criteria for financial assistance in acquiring an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show functional loss equivalent to flexion limited to 30 degrees or less in either knee, nor did it show a current diagnosis of upper airway resistance syndrome, mucosal neoplasm of oral cavity, or gynecological condition for VA compensation purposes.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for CTS were also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show any current symptoms or functional impairment related to these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the issues of migraines and headaches, severe body aches and joint pain, bilateral knee condition, bilateral ankle condition, sleeping disorder, bilateral wrist condition, bilateral hip condition, squamous cell carcinoma, and fatigue has been dismissed. Service connection is granted for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various knee and wrist conditions due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for chronic headaches and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed. The appeals for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a left wrist disability are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The right ankle, left ankle, and left knee scars are not rated higher than the current 10 percent due to their non-painful and stable nature.,Tonsillitis is currently assigned a 10 percent rating, which is the maximum allowed under Diagnostic Code 6599-6516. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not warrant additional ratings.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates for service connection and SMC were dismissed as they did not meet the procedural requirements under the modernized review system (AMA).

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals on all four issues due to his withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome. The claims for other musculoskeletal disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as her scalp rash (psoriasis), due to insufficient examination findings and inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for left elbow, right elbow, right wrist, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to a lack of compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and a right wrist sprain, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during active service. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a right ankle disability is remanded due to lack of recent VA treatment records.