Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected TBI, depressive disorder, headaches, and tinnitus. Other service connection claims are either denied or remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded the issues of right shoulder condition and left wrist condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that there is no current disability and insufficient evidence to establish a link between his in-service symptoms and his current condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right foot compartment syndrome and an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right wrist tendonitis. The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran has these conditions, and his current ratings are appropriate.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal and psychiatric conditions due to incomplete development of records from his active duty service.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for right wrist ankylosis and the assignment of a separate rating for neuritis of the right upper extremity, evaluated as 40 percent as of November 27, 2019. The Veteran's service-connected conditions were found to be stable throughout each period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left wrist disability, headaches, hypertension, and heart disability due to insufficient medical opinions provided by the July 2013 VA examiner. The Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service injuries and symptoms are not addressed.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU from January 1, 2016 to August 1, 2018 is remanded due to the need for additional information regarding her employment status during that period.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the June 2019 remand directives and requires new VA medical opinions for service connection claims related to bilateral arm conditions and plantar fasciitis.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the merits of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left wrist arthritis is at least as likely as not related to service, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left wrist tendonitis, left thigh weakness and atrophy, right thigh weakness and atrophy, and bilateral hearing loss due to outstanding private treatment records and a need for new medical opinions.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a 20% rating for lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, and the Veteran's claims for service connection of right wrist tendonitis and genitourinary condition as secondary to his low back disability were not addressed due to insufficient medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right ear, right wrist, and left wrist conditions due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot, ankle, knee, hip, elbow, shoulder, and low back disabilities. The appeal is being remanded due to inadequate or incomplete previous examinations.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis in upper extremities, and osteoarthritis in lower extremities due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for residuals of fracture of the right hand, claimed as right wrist fracture was denied by the Board. The highest available rating for painful motion of the wrist without ankylosis is 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right wrist disorder, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis, is at least as likely as not related to his active service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's left wrist disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right wrist disorder, left wrist disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's stroke residuals.