Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed for bilateral hearing loss and left eye disability. The initial rating of PTSD prior to April 27, 2017, is granted at a 70% level. Other claims are remanded.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his right elbow disability was denied. The RO granted an increased initial 60 percent evaluation for the Veteran’s service-connected residuals of a right arm injury, rated as residuals of fractures to the right elbow, effective July 6, 2017.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for narcolepsy, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral wrist disability, depression, hypertension and abnormal heartbeat, left ear hearing loss, and migraine headaches.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence added to the record, and also requested additional opinions from a VA examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disorder and left knee disorder.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a left shoulder disability, left wrist disability, cervical spine disability, or right finger numbness related to service.,There is also no current evidence of a left and/or right knee disability or colitis related to service.

Service connection is granted for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and bilateral cubital tunnel syndrome.,Service connection is also granted for major depressive disorder, but not as PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities from June 27, 2009, to September 7, 2013. The assigned schedular evaluations were found adequate and no referral for extraschedular consideration was required.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new VA examination to address the Veteran's symptoms of numbness and tingling in his right wrist, as well as any neurological manifestations.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding whether PTSD aggravated dementia, which was a contributing factor to the Veteran's death. The Veteran had service-connected disabilities but did not meet the legal criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Veteran's claims for clothing allowances related to left wrist, right knee, and back braces are denied as he is not service-connected for any of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for various conditions due to unclear dates and nature of the Veteran's military service. The case will be returned to VA for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right wrist condition is granted, effective July 1, 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left wrist disabilities due to a lack of an opinion linking these conditions to his military service. The case will be sent back for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions, including lymphadenopathy, right shoulder disorder, arthritis, right wrist disorder, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, migraine headaches, and tinnitus. The Veteran's period of service is noted to be during a period of INACDUTRA, which does not allow for service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claim for GERD is granted, but his claim for bilateral CTS is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent her from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, resulting in the grant of TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral arm/shoulder disability, low back disability, left knee disability, bilateral ankle and foot disabilities, bilateral eye disability (claimed as myopia), left ear hearing loss, and PTSD. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability or a causal relationship to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected hand, elbow, and wrist disabilities are being remanded for further assessment due to the lack of recent examinations. The VA needs to schedule new examinations that comply with Correia v. McDonald and Sharp v. Shulkin.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left wrist recurrent/persistent ganglion cyst, attributing her pain and functional loss to carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a low back disability and remanded all other claims due to insufficient evidence in the previous examination.