Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to September 7, 2012 was granted. The issues of service connection for left knee disability (claimed as secondary to right knee disability), right wrist disability, and lumbar spine disability (claimed as secondary to right knee disability) were remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for left knee quadricep muscle atrophy disorder and right carpal tunnel syndrome rating was granted, with the earliest possible effective dates being May 6, 2002.,Both conditions were found to have been present since service, but not recognized until the Veteran filed his claims in May 2002.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome, left hand, is related to service and grants this claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, residuals of cold injury to the feet, and other psychiatric disorders were denied as there was no evidence of a verified in-service stressor or diagnosis of residuals of cold injury to the feet. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen these claims.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for gout was denied as there is no evidence showing that his gout initially manifested during service, nor did it have a nexus with service.

The Veteran's service-connected right wrist condition has worsened since the last VA examination in October 2016, and he should be evaluated again to determine his current disability level.

The Veteran is granted SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(m) for loss of use of both legs and SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l) based on the need of regular aid and attendance due to multiple service-connected disabilities other than those indicating that he has loss of use of both legs.,The Veteran is also granted SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(o).,However, the Veteran's entitlement to SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(r)(2) remains pending as it requires a higher level of care which has not been determined.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have caused him to be in need of regular aid and attendance, which has been granted for special monthly compensation (SMC).

Service connection for PTSD has been granted with a rating of 70 percent, effective from February 5, 2021.,Service connection for various conditions including heart condition, left foot condition, right and left wrist conditions, migraines, and depression have also been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a lack of recent VA examination and treatment records, which may affect the severity assessment of his carpal tunnel syndrome. The case will be readjudicated after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability and bilateral wrist pain have been reopened, but the merits of these claims are not currently addressed due to pending remands.,Effective date claims for right knee and right shoulder disabilities remain unresolved.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD, loss of teeth, a rating in excess of 50 percent for mood disorder, DMII, and bilateral CTS due to potential overlap with other diagnosed conditions and need for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected right wrist sprain, finding that the evidence did not support such an increase.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient development and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Appellant's periods of active duty and OCS from June 1991 to March 1992. The VA is required to verify these dates and provide an addendum medical opinion on whether her claimed conditions are related to service, including aggravation during OCS.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examination opinions and incomplete development regarding herbicide exposure. The claims will be further developed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides in service, which could affect his claims for heart disabilities, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his degenerative changes, left wrist and left knee instability as there is no evidence of moderate or severe instability in either condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service or any service-connected disability.,The decision also denied the Veteran's claim for increased ratings for major depressive and anxiety disorders.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right wrist disabilities, as well as for bilateral knee disabilities. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his left wrist and left wrist scar disabilities have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable disability rating for residuals of a left wrist surgical scar, hypertension, lumbar spine disability, and left knee disability have been remanded.

The Veteran's burn scars on the right wrist and hand are granted a 10% disability rating prior to February 8, 2021. A separate 10% rating is also granted for his burn scar of the right wrist effective from February 8, 2021. His burn scar of the right hand remains at a non-compensable rating.