Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a left wrist disability and back disability as secondary to both knees due to inadequate opinions in previous examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including lupus, weak bladder, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and gynecological problems, have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since September 5, 2002. The Board has granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis from that date.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's complete service treatment records and to ensure proper notification of their unavailability. The issues of service connection for various disabilities are being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for residuals of a fracture of the right hand has been granted. The claims for service connection related to cyst of the mouth, left ankle disability, right lateral epicondylitis and right wrist sprain are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings was denied. The left wrist disability is rated at 10 percent, and the back disability is rated at 40 percent as of November 1, 2019.

The Veteran's right hand carpal tunnel syndrome is currently rated at 10 percent prior to October 6, 2020, and 30 percent thereafter. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist and right thumb disability, finding that there was no causal relationship between these disabilities and any in-service injury or disease. The Board noted that the Veteran did not seek treatment for his hand conditions after discharge from service and that his current diagnoses of arthritis were first documented over 38 years later.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional service treatment records.

The VA Form 9 submitted on June 20, 2017 was not timely filed and the appeal is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hand disability, including trigger fingers and carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or aggravation. The Veteran did not provide any lay testimony or other evidence to support his claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus the TDIU claim is denied.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 20% disability rating for his right wrist disability. The claim of entitlement to a higher rating is remanded due to new evidence indicating possible malunion or non-union of the ulna, which could warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome and internal derangement of left shoulder, as well as his claim for TDIU prior to October 2, 2019. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical records and undergo further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an addendum VA opinion regarding service connection and aggravation of hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection due to potential aggravation of his conditions by his service-connected disabilities and exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right carpal tunnel syndrome due to a lack of medical documentation in-service, requiring further development including obtaining an addendum opinion from a clinician.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for a scar on the left arm was granted. A rating of 70 percent was assigned for residuals of crush injuries to the left arm, characterized as damage to muscle groups V and VI, damage to the brachial artery, and damage to the median, ulnar, and radial nerves. The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for a left shoulder disability prior to July 8, 2014 was denied. Since July 8, 2014, a rating of 30 percent has been granted for the left shoulder disability. The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for a left wrist disability is denied.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations were not conducted as per the July 2017 remand instructions and thus, the case is being returned to the AOJ for further development. The issues of service connection for various conditions are now pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hand and wrist strains and entitlement to a TDIU prior to August 2, 2018. The evidence did not support finding that his current disorders were related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The residual scars previously scars, removal of swollen lymph nodes are not rated as compensable. The chronic headaches prior to January 24, 2020 and the relapse fever (previously fever, night sweats) prior to January 24, 2020 are each granted a 10 percent rating. The carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand prior to January 24, 2020 is granted a 10 percent rating and the carpal tunnel syndrome of the left hand prior to January 24, 2020 is denied higher than a 10 percent rating. Multiple joint pain prior to January 24, 2020 is not rated as higher than 10 percent. The idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis prior to January 24, 2020 is also not rated as higher than 30 percent.