Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran's claims can be adjudicated. The missing records are of particular importance as they may clarify the cause of the Veteran's diffuse musculoskeletal pain, and the outstanding National Guard and SSA records may contain evidence relevant to the pending claims.

The Board has granted service connection for right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, and pinguecula. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy (claimed as numbness), left lower extremity radiculopathy (claimed as numbness), right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability are dismissed.,The Veteran's claim to reopen entitlement to service connection for bilateral pes planus is reopened.,The Veteran's claim to reopen entitlement to service connection for right knee disability is reopened.,The Veteran's claim to reopen entitlement to service connection for left knee disability (claimed as chronic knee strain post fracture of the left lateral femoral condyle) is reopened.,The Veteran's claim to reopen entitlement to service connection for right shin splint disability is reopened.,The Veteran's claim to reopen entitlement to service connection for left shin splint disability is reopened.,The Veteran's claim to reopen entitlement to service connection for right wrist disability is reopened.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for surgical scar of the right wrist, other than painful scar was denied. However, the Veteran was granted a separate 10 percent disability rating for his painful scar on the right wrist effective October 13, 2017.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, left carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, and lumbar spine disorder were denied. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) was granted.

Service connection is granted for seizures, memory loss, and hypertension.,The Veteran's left shoulder condition, fibromyalgia, back condition, left carpal tunnel syndrome, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and skin condition are remanded for further development.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities for the period from September 27, 2012 to December 28, 2015 and for the period from December 29, 2015 to present.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee and left wrist disorders due to insufficient evidence in their favor.

The Veteran's headaches have been rated at a maximum schedular rating of 50 percent, and no higher.,The Veteran has multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities that do not meet the criteria for a separate 10% disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected left wrist disorder and left upper extremity muscle atrophy have not prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since September 4, 2012.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, and back disability as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial ratings were remanded, with the case being returned to the AOJ for readjudication.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a bilateral wrist disorder is being remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with previous Board directives and the need for updated VA treatment records and a contemporaneous examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal disabilities, including prostate cancer and elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his claimed exposure to herbicide agents during active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the lack of recent medical records and a need for a more contemporaneous VA examination to assess his left wrist disability.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for chronic sinusitis was denied as her symptoms did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a right hand disorder were both denied due to lack of current diagnoses.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to his failure to appear for VA examinations and because of a recent address change. The claims include issues related to bilateral hearing loss, s/p nasal bone fracture, arm disabilities, carpal tunnel syndrome, left eye disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information provided by a previous VA examination regarding the severity of the Veteran's right wrist fracture.

The Veteran's evaluation for benign essential tremor with carpal tunnel syndrome, right upper extremity was reduced from 20 percent to 0 percent effective September 1, 2016. The reduction was improper and the rating is restored.

The Board denied service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome, granted a 40 percent rating for chronic lumbar strain and IVDS with thoracic myalgia beginning January 16, 2020, and denied ratings for other conditions.