Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his military service and are related to his duties.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome and right elbow condition as secondary to a service-connected right scaphoid injury due to inadequate examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions were denied as they are not related to military service. The Board found the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions began during or were aggravated by active duty.

The Veteran's arthritis of the hips and knees are granted service connection, but his hand disability is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than May 31, 2015 for service-connected disorders was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not submit a timely application for benefits prior to his discharge from active duty on May 30, 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and entitlement to TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board found no link between the claimed disability and active duty service, and concluded that the Veteran is not unemployable due to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance/housebound status is denied because he does not meet the necessary requirements under 38 U.S.C. § 1114.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right elbow arthritis, right hand arthritis, right hip arthritis, right knee arthritis, right shoulder arthritis, right wrist arthritis, and right ankle arthritis due to a lack of evidence showing current disability attributable to active service. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding these conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist disability, ear disability, sinusitis, carpal tunnel on the left side, carpal tunnel on the right side, and acquired psychiatric disorder. Service connection is granted for all conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his hernia condition, right wrist sprain, and DDD with low back strain have been denied. The Board found no current disability related to the hernia surgery or testicular pain, and did not find ankylosis in the DDD with low back strain case.

The Veteran withdrew all her claims, including those for service connection and increased rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right hand and wrist tendinitis are currently rated at 10 percent each, with no higher ratings granted. The effective dates for the assigned ratings remain May 25, 2017.,There is no evidence of ankylosis or other conditions that would warrant a higher rating for either condition.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for a right wrist disability, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as anxiety) due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims are currently pending.

The Veteran's service-connected vision disorder, left and right wrist strain are denied. The Veteran does not have a diagnosed upper or lower extremity peripheral nerve disorder. An initial compensable rating for sinusitis is granted.

The Veteran's service connection for sleep apnea is restored, and his previously denied claims for postoperative residuals of left and right ganglion cysts are reopened. The bilateral wrist disabilities claim remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various joint and muscle pain conditions due to an undiagnosed illness, as they are related to his military service in the Southwest Asia theater.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of psoriasis and a left wrist orthopedic disability due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA examinations and reviewing additional medical records. The Veteran's claims for service connection are related to his active service, with particular focus on exposure to herbicides during his time aboard the USS Midway in Vietnam.