Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board has denied service connection for a left wrist disability and remanded the issues of service connection for a left leg/thigh disability, hallux valgus of the left foot, and hallux valgus of the right foot.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left wrist disability, and right wrist disability due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings, service connection, and TDIU due to new evidence not having been considered by the AOJ.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for a right wrist disability, finding no credible evidence linking the condition to service.

The Veteran's migraine disability is granted as secondary to her service-connected fibromyalgia. The issues of a higher rating for fibromyalgia, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and TDIU are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral upper extremity neurologic symptoms, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and left cubital tunnel syndrome. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, BPH, sleep apnea, and several other conditions due to a lack of current diagnoses or credible evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.,Service connection was granted for tinnitus.

The Board has found that further development of the medical evidence is needed for the Veteran's claims, including new VA examinations to assess the current severity of his left carpal tunnel syndrome and left wrist disability.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for left and right wrist ganglion cysts prior to February 1, 2012. The Veteran's bilateral wrist disorders are rated based on limitation of motion under DC 5215. The issues of entitlement to separate disability ratings for neurological abnormalities associated with the bilateral wrist ganglion cysts and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities have been remanded.

The Board dismissed all appeals due to the Veteran's death before a decision was made.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, right wrist as there is no current diagnosis of this condition and the symptoms are already accounted for by her service-connected right wrist strain.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is rated at 30 percent since November 18, 2020. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating as there is no ankylosis of the dominant wrist in any other position except favorable.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as service-connected, while his gout and/or generalized arthritis, left leg disability, right leg/right ankle disability, skin disability of the feet, bilateral foot disability, carpal tunnel syndrome, acid reflux, hemorrhoids, poor circulation/venous insufficiency, and headache disability are denied. The Veteran's jock itch is also denied.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, as the previous opinions were inadequate and did not consider all relevant evidence.

The Board denied an extraschedular rating for left wrist arthritis, finding that the disability is adequately compensated by the current schedular criteria and there are no related factors such as marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from August 8, 2017 to December 26, 2017. The Board granted entitlement to TDIU during this period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including low back disability, bilateral leg disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and major depressive disorder), and bronchial asthma. The evidence submitted was found to be new but not material.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for right upper extremity chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (previously carpal tunnel syndrome) is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and updated treatment records.

The Veteran's initial increased ratings for left wrist and right hand disabilities have been denied as there is no evidence of ankylosis or arthritis that would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability and left wrist degenerative joint disease have rendered him unable to maintain substantial gainful employment since November 20, 2015. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for this period.