Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, arthritis of the left knee, and left CTS have been granted. The decision also denied service connection for these conditions.

Service connection granted for low back disability, cervical spine/neck disability, migraine headaches, and left wrist disability.,The Veteran's current conditions are related to his service.

The Board has dismissed all claims due to the lack of an adequate substantive appeal for each issue.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for post scaphoid fracture of the left wrist and residuals of right ankle sprain have been denied.,The Veteran's back condition has been remanded due to conflicting findings regarding neurological manifestations. The hypothyroidism evaluation is also remanded as the Veteran failed to appear for an examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his left wrist arthritis is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and an examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for arthritis of the right wrist is being remanded due to inadequate examination and procedural issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for headaches and left wrist disability due to insufficient evidence in their previous evaluations.

The Board denied service connection for ulnar neuropathy of the right wrist and granted a 40 percent rating, but no higher, for lumbosacral spine disability (back disability) at all times from October 18, 2012.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right wrist disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link between his current condition and his in-service injury.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected left lower extremity tarsal tunnel syndrome is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II (diabetes) is being remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine its onset during service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder is being remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine its onset during service.,The Veteran's claim for residuals of stroke is being remanded due to the inextricability with her other claims, including service connection for a heart disorder and sarcoidosis.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches is being remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine its onset during service.,The Veteran's claim for right lower extremity disability, to include as secondary to service-connected LLE tarsal tunnel syndrome, is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion on etiology.,The Veteran's claim for sinusitis is being remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine its onset during service.,The Veteran's claim for sarcoidosis is being remanded due to the inextricability with her other claims, including service connection for a heart disorder and sarcoidosis.,The Veteran's claim for left hand carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is being remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine its onset during service.,The Veteran's claim for left shoulder rotator cuff (RTC) tendonitis is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion on etiology.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before a decision on the merits may be made regarding the issues of entitlement to higher initial ratings for PTSD, TBI, and an increased rating for left wrist disability. The Veteran was last provided a VA examination relating to his PTSD in April 2010, over nine years ago, relating to his TBI in June 2010, over nine years ago, and relating to his left wrist in March 2013, or six years ago. During the August 2019 Board hearing, the Veteran testified that his service-connected PTSD, TBI, and left wrist disability have increased in severity. In light of the Veteran’s assertions, new VA examinations are required so that the current nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities may be determined.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service-connected right wrist condition and its relationship to her carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5271 for marked limitation of motion. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any other claimed conditions.,Service connection has been granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks, and alcohol use disorder), sleep apnea, low back disorder, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, left knee disorder, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. Service connection was denied for the remaining conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various knee and foot disabilities due to inadequate examination records, and to obtain additional VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether obesity caused or aggravated the Veteran's fall, which led to his right wrist injury. The Veteran's service-connected left knee condition is also under consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right wrist, left wrist, and low back disabilities due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions due to incomplete records from the Veteran's period of service in the Republic of Vietnam.

Your right wrist disability and lumbar spine disability have been rated based on their current severity. However, your case is being sent back for further review as there are some issues that need to be addressed.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent effective November 29, 2018. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to the frequency and severity of her prostrating attacks.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and opinion regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for his neck, left knee, right shoulder, and right wrist conditions.