Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for bilateral shoulder, knee, wrist and hip disorders were denied. The right elbow arthritis claim was granted. The fibromyalgia claim was denied. The depressive disorder secondary to service-connected bilateral club foot with arthritis and pes planus was granted.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for residuals of left ankle and right wrist injuries were denied by the Board. The left ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent, while the right wrist injury is also rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a bilateral hip disability was dismissed. The Veteran's PTSD is granted with an initial rating of 50%. His neck and right shoulder disabilities are remanded, as well as his claim for increased rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded by the Board. The AOJ is directed to consider new evidence submitted since the August 2016 denial of his right knee disorder claim.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of right wrist tendonitis and remanded other claims due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted as his active service aggravated a pre-existing condition.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is denied as there is no current diagnosis.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left wrist post-traumatic arthritis was denied as the current evaluation of 10 percent is considered appropriate based on the range of motion findings. The case has been remanded to obtain additional examination and evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including left wrist radiocarpal disease, right wrist radiocarpal disease, right wrist tendonitis, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), duodenitis, arthritis of the right foot, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The Board found that these conditions are not related to service or any presumptive exposure basis.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic back, right knee, and right wrist disorders on a presumptive basis as they manifested to a compensable degree within one year of separation from active duty.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings and service connection has been denied. The right arm disability, including the gunshot wound residuals, is not rated higher than 10 percent due to limited range of motion. A separate rating for carpal tunnel and ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is remanded. The case requires additional information from the Veteran regarding his employment history and a VA examination to assess the full extent of his functional impairments.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented her from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 12, 2020.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete development and the need for additional medical opinions. The issues of service connection, TDIU, and psychosis are all remanded.

The Veteran's case is being remanded for new VA examinations to evaluate his service-connected residuals of a right wrist fracture and for consideration of an extraschedular rating and TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board denied service connection for a right wrist disorder, including as secondary to service-connected right thumb fracture residuals, finding no evidence of in-service onset or relationship to the disability.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as schizoaffective disorder. The issues of service connection for a back disability and a left wrist disability are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience during the period from January 1, 2010 through June 18, 2010.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims, including those for bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disability, right wrist disability, perforated right ear drum, and cervical spine disability. The remaining claims of sinusitis, respiratory disability (including asthma and bronchitis), and gastroesophageal reflux disease have been remanded as well.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular evaluation based on limitation of motion. The Board finds no evidence of ankylosis or other conditions that would warrant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left wrist disability, including chronic sprain, possible disuse atrophy versus ulnar neuropathy, and possible SL tear, is causally related to his in-service injury during active duty. As a result, service connection for this condition is granted.