Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain VA treatment records and for an addendum medical opinion regarding his sleep apnea. The TDIU claim will be considered again as part of the increased PTSD rating claim.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder is granted with a rating of 70 percent effective June 7, 2016.,Headache syndrome is granted with a 50 percent rating effective November 9, 2016.

The Veteran's cervical strain disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the extent and severity of her service-connected condition, including any additional diagnoses. The examiner must provide an opinion on whether these additional diagnoses are related to the service-connected cervical strain.,A new VA examination is needed to address whether the Veteran’s RUE disabilities (other than cervical radiculopathy) are secondary to her service-connected right shoulder and cervical spine disabilities or if they have a separate etiology. The examiner must differentiate between symptoms attributable to the service-connected condition and those attributable to nonservice-connected conditions.,The Veteran's asthma is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine whether it was caused by environmental exposures during Desert Storm/Shield, aggravated by her service-connected allergic rhinitis, or has a separate etiology. The examiner must provide an opinion on the relationship between these factors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist, right wrist, and right hand conditions have been denied as there is no evidence of current diagnoses or a link to service.,The claim for an increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder has also been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, as his income has exceeded the poverty threshold level throughout the appeal period.

The Board has denied service connection for a right pinky finger disability and a mental health disability (to include anxiety). The Veteran's left thumb and left wrist disabilities are remanded for further development.,Service connection is not granted for the Veteran's claimed conditions as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to active duty.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of ankylosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus denying his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's TMJD, generalized anxiety disorder with depressive symptoms, lumbar degenerative disc disease with small focal central disc herniation, right wrist sprain, status post right thumb fracture, healed, peripheral neuropathy of the median nerve (left index finger and right thumb), patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee, lateral collateral ligament sprain of the left ankle, lateral collateral ligament sprain of the right ankle, tinnitus, trochanteric pain syndrome including trochanteric bursitis (right hip), hallux valgus of the left foot, and hallux valgus of the right foot have all been granted effective dates prior to June 22, 2018.,The Veteran's recurrent urinary tract infection has not been granted an effective date prior to June 22, 2018.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, right knee degenerative joint disease, left knee replacement, cervical spine disorder (including cervical strain, cervical degenerative spondylosis, and degenerative disc disease with stenosis and myelopathy), right shoulder calcific bursitis, left shoulder degenerative arthritis, right cervical radiculopathy, left cervical radiculopathy, right wrist strain, left wrist strain, right hand strain, and left hand strain are all granted. The Veteran's foot disorder other than bilateral pes planus and back disorder are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left wrist disability and arthritis of the lumbosacral spine were denied. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted based on the evidence provided.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and vision loss, need further review due to potential death of the Veteran. The appeal is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability evaluation for his right wrist strain with joint pain and decreased range of motion is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for various joint disorders, including right wrist, left forearm, right fingers, left fingers, left thigh, left buttock, and left foot arthritis. The decision also denied service connection for DDD of the spine.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The remaining issues of service connection for arthralgia, low back disability, esophageal disability, and cardiac disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the remaining issues due to lack of medical evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that it is not related to his service-connected sleep apnea and does not meet the criteria for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's left wrist disability was rated as 10 percent prior to July 6, 2011 and from November 1, 2011, to April 25, 2013. From July 1, 2013 to March 13, 2020, the Veteran was rated at 20 percent. Since March 14, 2020, he is rated at 70 percent for loss of use of the left hand.

The Board has granted service connection for left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy and carpal tunnel syndrome, right foot achilles tendonitis with spur and plantar fasciitis, left foot achilles tendonitis with spur and hallux rigidus, and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, status post cervical fusion and discectomy.,The Board has also granted an initial 10 percent rating for sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.