Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome due to insufficient rationale in the VA examination and lack of a definitive opinion regarding the etiology of the condition. The Veteran's service connection claim is being remanded for further development.

The Board has found that the Veteran's low back condition is not related to service, and has remanded the cases for further development regarding hemorrhoids and right wrist conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations to address service connection claims and rating issues. The Veteran's incarceration in a prison facility is noted.

The Board has remanded the case for further evaluation of the Veteran's neurological disorder of the right upper extremity, including her post-fracture of the right scaphoid and tear of the triangular fibrocartilage with carpal tunnel syndrome. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his multi-level stenosis of the lumbar spine, hypertrophic DJD (arthritis) of the thumb, index, and long fingers of the right hand, hypertrophic DJD of the ring finger of the right hand, hypertrophic DJD of the little finger of the right hand, or fracture of the carpal scaphoid of the right wrist with osteoarthritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and right hand/wrist condition due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran contends his conditions are related to service, but VA examiners have found no direct link.

The Veteran's claim for service connection is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and VA examination reports. The claims for TDIU and psychiatric disorder are dismissed as withdrawn.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's VR&E benefits should be remanded due to inconsistencies in his employment status and the need for a new assessment considering all of the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal was partially granted, with a 10% rating for left wrist scaphoid fracture and remanded for further examination regarding right knee degenerative joint disease.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a right wrist disability, a right knee disability, and obstructive sleep apnea. The left wrist disability and consequent scar claim is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for thyroid cancer due to exposure to radiation is granted, but the claim for service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in a loss or loss of use other than an upper extremity, and he is not service-connected for a severe burn injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for eligibility for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, congenital kidney disability, bilateral wrist disability, back disability, leg pain in left lower extremity, and leg pain in right lower extremity. The cases are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.,Service connection is not granted as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service for the Veteran's left knee disability, congenital kidney disability, bilateral wrist disability, back disability, leg pain in left lower extremity, and leg pain in right lower extremity.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum VA examination for the Veteran's right wrist condition due to inadequate consideration of flare-ups during previous examinations.

The Board denied service connection for osteoarthritis of the hips, elbows, wrists, and shoulders as there was no evidence of chronic in-service arthritis or continuity of symptomatology. The bilateral knee disability was also denied due to lack of a showing of chronic in-service arthritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability and left arm or wrist condition, to include as secondary to service-connected left shoulder disability or lumbar spine disabilities. The claims are being returned for further development including examinations.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions has been granted. The Board also remanded several issues related to the Veteran's disabilities, including cramps of the lower extremities, right shoulder disability, right wrist disability, memory loss due to a motor vehicle accident, cervical spine disability, joint pain, bronchitis, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including schizophrenia and depression).

The Veteran's request for increased ratings for various service-connected conditions was denied. The current disability ratings are 10% for right peroneal nerve palsy, 30% for right carpal tunnel syndrome from July 10, 2019 to present, and 20% for left carpal tunnel syndrome since June 12, 2011. The Veteran's service-connected conditions are rated based on their direct effects without any presumption or secondary linkage.

The Board dismissed the appeal as the question of whether the RO erred in not accepting a VA Form 21-526b filed on November 14, 2018 is moot because service connection for right and left hand disorders, to include carpal tunnel syndrome, was denied after reopening the issue.

The Board has found the evidence insufficient to determine if the Veteran's claimed conditions are related to his active duty service and is therefore remanding these issues for further examination.