Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for left wrist and right wrist disabilities, finding that they are not related to the Veteran's military service or a service-connected disability.,The Board also denied an increased rating for the Veteran's right Achilles tendon disability.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of both upper extremities due to insufficient medical opinions addressing whether the Veteran's conditions are secondary to his service-connected disabilities, specifically Meniere's disease.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA and non-VA treatment records, arranging for orthopedic examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine and right wrist disabilities, and resolving discrepancies in previous examination findings.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues are being remanded.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but the claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, effective June 24, 2009.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a dental condition and a 10 percent evaluation based on multiple, noncompensable service-connected disabilities. The decision found that the Veteran did not have a current compensable disability for VA purposes during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right hand/wrist injury and PTSD due to new evidence submitted by the appellant, including his military personnel records which indicate he reported an in-service injury. The Board will consider whether this evidence raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The appeal for service connection for a bilateral foot disability, to include the residuals of frost bite, is dismissed. The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for left wrist strain and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for painful motion of the bilateral knees, wrists, and feet was denied. The Board also granted TDIU effective October 11, 2005, and eligibility for DEA benefits effective that date.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for her right wrist disability and TDIU prior to June 26, 2016 are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding whether she has a current diagnosis of right carpal tunnel syndrome related to service or caused by her service-connected right wrist disability.

The Veteran's left wrist disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, the maximum rating available based on limitation of motion. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence does not support an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the left wrist disability at any time during the pendency of this appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for a right wrist disability (osteoarthritis) and a left wrist disability (osteoarthritis), both of which are considered secondary to the Veteran's now service-connected right wrist disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder has been reopened, but the Board finds that additional evidence is needed to determine if his current symptoms are related to military service. The Veteran also needs VA examinations to assess the severity of his PTSD and left wrist disability.

The Veteran's right wrist scar is currently rated at 10 percent for the period prior to October 15, 2020. The appeal for a higher rating is denied for the period from October 15, 2020 onward.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his complaints of numbness and pain in his feet, wrists, and hands. The issues include gout, polyneuropathy, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced to suggest that the condition is attributable to her service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to unclear diagnoses and need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his conditions, particularly in relation to his diabetes.

The Veteran's right wrist tendonitis and PTSD, major depressive disorder, and alcohol abuse disorder are being remanded for further development. The TDIU issue is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the right wrist disability.

The Board has granted service connection for right wrist/hand arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is of service origin and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.