Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board dismissed all appeals regarding service connection for various conditions due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal in May 2019. Service connection was granted for tinnitus.

The Veteran's left wrist disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity and manifestation of his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's initial claims for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for his left wrist arthritis or painful surgical scar, status post left wrist surgery.,Effective dates for service connection have been assigned based on the date of receipt of claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder was denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim. The denial of joint disorders/arthritis, low blood pressure, headaches, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is also noted.,Service connection cannot be granted for any of these conditions due to lack of competent evidence linking them to active service or events therein.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disability and any neurological disability of the right upper extremity. The appeal is remanded to obtain medical opinions regarding these issues.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disorder, tinnitus, and left carpal tunnel syndrome. The appeal for right carpal tunnel syndrome was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including respiratory disorder (to include asthma), left wrist disability, left hand disability, lumbar spine disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The Board found that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's claims for clothing allowances were denied as the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities caused wear and tear to his clothing.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete and illegible service records, as well as inadequate examination reports. The claims will be reviewed again with new evidence obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding her bilateral knee disabilities, as well as service connection for left wrist disability. The current rating for the left wrist condition remains denied.

The Board has decided that further development is needed to determine the service connection for a left hand/wrist disorder, including whether it is related to active duty service or overuse of the non-dominant left hand due to right-hand limitations.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions, including hemorrhoids and a left little toe callus. The claims were also dismissed due to her withdrawal of other issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to missing VA examinations and failure to report. The issues include service connection for various conditions, including fibromyalgia, lumbar spine disorder, bilateral hip disorder, enlarged lymph node in the groin region, bilateral hand carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral foot disorder, and psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for left wrist posttraumatic arthritis has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.

The Veteran's service connection claims for multiple conditions, including fibromyalgia (claimed as multiple joint aches), memory loss, migraines, and lumbar spine disability are granted. The remaining issues on appeal remain pending.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and he did not have a permanent total service-connected disability at the time of his death. The appellant's claim for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, obstructive sleep apnea, left and right wrist disabilities, and headaches due to potential service connection based on exposure to herbicides during service. The AOJ is required to confirm whether the USS Oriskany was within the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of Vietnam.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left wrist CTS, progressive ataxic syndrome, and spondylolysis are granted. The TBI residuals, orthopedic left wrist disability, and low back disability other than spondylolysis issues are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for persistent depressive disorder was denied. The effective date of the 70 percent rating for persistent depressive disorder was set at September 12, 2016. The previously denied claims for service connection were reopened.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for arthritis of the left hand was denied. The Board also remanded the issue of secondary service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome, which is related to a service-connected condition.