Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee, shoulder, and left wrist disabilities due to new and material evidence. However, these claims are still pending as they have been remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased ratings due to additional evidence being added to the record.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral wrist and hand sprains due to incomplete medical opinions. The Veteran's service connection claim is being reviewed again with a focus on whether his current conditions are related to his in-service fall, as well as any potential secondary or aggravating effects from his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and bilateral knees.

The Veteran's application to reopen claims for service connection for cervical spine arthritis, lumbar spine arthritis, disc bulges, and right ankle arthritis was dismissed. The appeals for seborrheic dermatitis, right knee disability, TMJ, and major depressive disorder were granted.,The Veteran is now entitled to an increased rating of 40 percent for his right foot disability, a 50 percent rating for his right wrist degenerative arthritis from April 26, 2016, and a TDIU from August 8, 2016 to October 19, 2020.

The Board has denied service connection for left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, finding no evidence of its onset in service or a relationship to the Veteran's service-connected residuals of laceration to his left fifth finger. Service connection is granted for neurological residuals of the laceration affecting the left little finger.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to report for an examination and requests that he complete a VA Form 21-8940. The TDIU claim is also pending as the Veteran was not provided with a VA Form 21-8940.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of February 9, 2012 for the assignment of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's left knee limitation of extension is currently rated as noncompensable, with no evidence showing it limited to 10 degrees or less.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a service connection for a cervical spine disorder. The Board finds that the Veteran did not have a cervical spine disability during his active service and there is no competent evidence of record showing its onset within one year post-service.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection for joint pain, specifically low back, bilateral hips, right knee, and right wrist due to insufficient evidence regarding a direct relationship to in-service duties. Additional development is needed to address whether the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his exposure on concrete and steel decks during service.

The Veteran's appeal for avitaminosis, also claimed as weight loss, has been dismissed. The claims for service connection for various disabilities have been remanded due to the need for additional development of his service records and outpatient treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Left Carpal Tunnel Syndrome due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a cervical spine condition and right wrist condition due to inadequate VA opinions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, with one potentially related to his service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's appeals regarding her right wrist ulnar neuropathy have been remanded due to a request for withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right wrist osteoarthritis and left wrist radial fracture with dislocation, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on functional loss or ankylosis.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to January 14, 2017 was denied as he had substantial and gainful employment. The Board remanded the case due to a potential issue with service connection for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome is dismissed. The appeal to reopen his right shoulder disorder is granted, but the case is remanded for further examination and development regarding his left shoulder disorder.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an addendum VA opinion to determine if the Veteran's right wrist disability and bilateral shoulder disabilities are related to service.

The Board granted an effective date of January 23, 2008 for the award of service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's initial informal claim was dated on this day and VA recognized it as a request for benefits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, including right wrist strain. The Veteran is required to undergo a VA examination to assess his current level of impairment with regard to his service-connected right wrist disability.