Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities have been dismissed as they were granted in prior rating decisions.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for allergic rhinitis and urticaria, and a compensable rating for the residual surgical scar of the left wrist, status post left dorsal ganglion cyst excision, are denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spondylosis, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, and right wrist strain have been remanded for further examination.,Service connection for vertigo with bilateral hearing loss is also remanded as the Veteran has provided new evidence since his last VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right thumb disability, broken right wrist and residuals, low back condition, and hemorrhoids due to incomplete medical records. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that further clarification is required prior to a decision on the merits of the Veteran's claims due to internal inconsistencies in previous opinions and the need for additional evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder pain and bilateral wrist pain due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's effective date for a 40% rating for his service-connected right wrist disability is set at October 29, 2013. The decision grants the increased rating and resolves any doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU as he did not return a completed VA Form 21-8940 to support his claim, and there is no evidence demonstrating that he is unable to obtain or retain gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right wrist disability began during her active duty service and is granted service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating increases have been dismissed. The Board has remanded several issues including right foot neuropathy, left foot neuropathy, sleep apnea, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, bilateral primary open angle glaucoma, chronic fatigue syndrome, and lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has denied service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right and left upper extremities, finding that there is no current diagnosis of these conditions during or recent to the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left thumb, bilateral hip, skin disorder of the feet, left wrist, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome have all been denied. The Board found no current disability in any of these conditions at any point pertinent to the pendency of his claim.,The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis related to his hips or thumbs, attributing all abnormalities to his back disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for asthma and remanded the claims for type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The appeals are now pending before VA for further review.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the cervical spine, lumbar spine, and upper extremity radiculopathy claims due to the need for retrospective medical opinions. The remaining issues are remanded for readjudication.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left wrist disability is related to his military service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain disability is now considered service-connected.,The Veteran's right knee and left knee disabilities are now considered service-connected.,The Veteran's OSA is now considered service-connected.,The Veteran's pulmonary disability remains not service-connected.,The Veteran's right wrist and left wrist disabilities remain not service-connected.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, as there is no evidence of ankylosis. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip, low back, left ankle, right wrist, and throat disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing an in-service injury or disease. The cases are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's service connection for migraine headaches is granted. The rating for pansinusitis prior to August 7, 2019, is increased to 30 percent; however, the rating as of August 7, 2019, remains at 50 percent. The rating for hiatal hernia with GERD prior to August 7, 2019, is denied. The rating for cervical spine disability and right carpal tunnel syndrome with radiculopathy are remanded.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as service-connected. The increased rating for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand and the secondary service connection claim for left hand disorder are both remanded for further evaluation.