Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy prior to August 24, 2022 was granted. The claim for a higher rating after that date remains denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for muscle and joint pain, including back pain; a left wrist disorder; bilateral hearing loss; and tinnitus. The decision is based on the Veteran's incarcerated status and the need to schedule examinations while he remains in prison.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including OSA, lumbar degenerative disc disease, carpal tunnel syndrome, and anxiety disorder, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and experience.

The Board has remanded nine issues related to service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, depression, insomnia, carpal tunnel syndrome, and osteoarthritis. The Veteran's in-service stressors include exposure to the noise of cannon fire and guard duty.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical spine, right shoulder, left shoulder, right elbow, left elbow, right wrist, and left wrist disorders. The acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD, depression, and anxiety) is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for carpal tunnel of the left and right upper extremities as there was no evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection of cervical spine, lower back, right ankle, and right wrist disabilities. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The appeals seeking increased ratings for right and left knee degenerative joint disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine have been dismissed. The issues of service connection for a left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, right hand/wrist disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and foot disability (including pes planus and plantar fasciitis) are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right and left wrist disorders, including carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's gastroesophageal disorder, right knee disorder, and several musculoskeletal disorders are granted service connection. Service connection for tinnitus is also granted. The Veteran's claims for left shoulder, right shoulder, left elbow, right elbow, left wrist, right wrist, left hip, right hip, left ankle, right ankle, and bilateral lower extremity venous insufficiency have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and incorrect directive language, requiring a new opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's left wrist disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected right wrist disability is denied. The issue of entitlement to TDIU due to the service-connected right wrist disability is remanded.

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The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various foot, wrist, hip, and spine conditions have been withdrawn. The case is remanded for a new examination to determine the current severity of his cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for carpal tunnel of both wrists, which has been granted. He also seeks higher ratings for his left clavicular fracture, left wrist strain, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, migraine headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for left elbow, right elbow, cervical spine, left wrist, right wrist, left knee, left ankle, and right ankle conditions all of which are related to in-service injuries.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on all issues related to service connection and increased ratings for various disabilities. The appeal is dismissed as a result.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeals for lung condition and left knee condition. The right wrist, elbow, and leg conditions are remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims of service connection for sleep apnea and left wrist disability due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed. The issues of service connection for back disability and erectile dysfunction are moot due to prior adjudication. The appeal for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is denied, as the Veteran's hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.