Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his right wrist and elbow disabilities have been denied. The Veteran was granted staged ratings of 30 percent for limitation of flexion of the right elbow (dominant) effective August 29, 2020, and 30 percent for degenerative disease of the right elbow effective August 29, 2020.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his right knee and right wrist disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for either condition.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the AOJ sending development letters to his former address. The AOJ needs to send these letters to his current address and ensure any supplemental statement of the case is sent there as well.

The Veteran's left wrist disability, including loss of use due to ankylosis and a ganglion cyst, is rated at 60 percent from March 26, 2019. The scar issue remains denied.

The Board denied service connection for a right index finger disorder and a right wrist disorder, finding that the evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left wrist disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.,The Board also found that the Veteran's current left knee and left wrist disabilities are not proximately due to or aggravated by her service-connected right knee and right wrist disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues for a VA compensation examination, and another remand is necessary.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of right wrist fracture, right wrist scar, residuals of right knee arthroscopic meniscal repair, and right knee scars. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding a lower back condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to support the Veteran's claims for service connection. This includes obtaining medical records and personnel records from her Army Reserves service, as well as updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various hip, wrist, back, neck, and extremity disabilities are denied as the evidence does not support a link between these conditions and his military service.,The Veteran's service connection claims for right wrist and left wrist disabilities are also denied due to lack of in-service injury or incident.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist and skin disorders due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the Veteran's lay statements regarding the onset of his symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to military service.

The Veteran's right wrist disability, which includes a fracture with internal fixation and residual pain and loss of motion, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board found that the current rating adequately reflects the Veteran's symptoms and limitations.

The Board granted special monthly compensation (SMC) for the periods from July 21, 2011 to June 30, 2013 and beginning on November 5, 2020. The SMC is based on a single service-connected disability rated as totally disabling.

The Board has granted service connection for left wrist disorder, right knee disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder. The conditions are found to be related to in-service occurrences.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for left shoulder lesions and tears with bursitis, right shoulder bursitis (except for periods when a temporary total rating is in effect), left wrist strain, and right wrist strain due to inadequate examinations conducted during the most recent remand.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings remain pending as the Board has not granted all of his requested increases. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents and as secondary to service-connected disabilities, including his right foot disability. Additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's upper extremity neuropathy, shoulder disorders, and wrist disorders are related to his in-service exposure or service-connected conditions.

The Board found that VA waived any objection to the timeliness of the filing of the Veteran's substantive appeal, and thus granted the appeal for all issues listed in the August 2016 rating decision.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 30 percent for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity and a disability rating of 20 percent for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity.