Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's left wrist disability. The issues of service connection for a left knee disability and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to incomplete or insufficient examination reports.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records from inpatient treatment at DeWitt Army Community Hospital and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were not chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of service separation. The Board also found no evidence linking the current condition to herbicide exposure or other service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not render him unemployable due to his right ulnar neuropathy and osteoarthritis of the right wrist, as he was capable of performing activities required by employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist, left wrist, left foot pes planus, and right foot flat pes planus due to inadequate examination in April 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand and sleep apnea, finding that both conditions had their onset during active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral CTS and left elbow tendinosis, both of which are related to service. Effective August 5, 2015, the Veteran is now entitled to a 40% disability rating for his lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his inability to work is primarily due to non-service-connected conditions including colon cancer and related neuropathies in both legs.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to June 12, 2014 was denied as he did not meet the criteria of being precluded from obtaining and maintaining any form of gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, as the previous VA opinion did not adequately address whether his current condition began in or was caused by his active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disability and an increased rating for his left shoulder disability. The Board found that there was no evidence of a direct relationship between the Veteran's right wrist disability and his service-connected left shoulder disability, and also determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability did not warrant a higher than 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's postoperative residuals of carpal tunnel release surgery, left wrist (non-dominant) are rated at 40 percent. The appeal is remanded for consideration of a TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the claims due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for dysthymic disorder, right wrist disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The claim for increased rating for left wrist sprain is also remanded.

The Board has remanded several claims, including those for increased ratings and service connection for shin splints, wrist disabilities, and knee disabilities. The Veteran's shin splints are being reviewed under the new Diagnostic Code 5262 effective February 7, 2021. Wrist and knee conditions are also being evaluated in terms of their relationship to service-connected shin splints.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for a left knee disability. The remaining issues of service connection for right hip, left arm, left shoulder, and left wrist disabilities are remanded due to conflicting medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's left wrist disability and gastrointestinal disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is rated at 10 percent and denied for a higher rating. The Board found that the evidence does not support an increased rating due to functional limitations caused by pain, fatigue, weakness, and lack of endurance.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of both upper extremities due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as the evidence is insufficient to determine his employment history and educational background.