Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus disability are granted. The recurring left wrist ganglion cyst is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has dismissed all appeals regarding service connection for various disabilities, including left and right shoulder disabilities, obstructive sleep apnea, heart disability (CAD), left and right wrist disabilities, and paralysis of the median nerve. The Veteran withdrew his appeals for these issues during a videoconference hearing.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for his right and left shoulder disabilities, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, bilateral hand numbness (or carpal tunnel syndrome), and bilateral hand eczema. The remand requests that a new VA examination be scheduled for each of these conditions to provide opinions on whether they are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral wrist or hand disabilities, and his claims for service connection are denied. The reduction in rating for left knee instability from 10% to 0% is remanded as there is evidence of sustained improvement.

The Board has granted service connection for right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, but denied service connection for left leg disorder and bilateral foot disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases for the August 2016 decision, including failure to consider continuity of symptomatology under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b) and post-service diagnosis under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(d).

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to October 27, 2015. The Board found that the symptoms did not warrant a higher rating and denied the claim for an increased rating.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed right wrist, cervical spine, lower back, bilateral knee, and right ankle disorders as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, radiculopathy, muscle loss in upper extremities, peripheral neuropathy in lower extremities, and carpal tunnel syndrome. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his active service.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, radiculopathy, muscle loss in upper extremities, peripheral neuropathy in lower extremities, and carpal tunnel syndrome. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, low back disability, wrist osteoarthritis, and left lower extremity radiculopathy, prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to March 31, 2012. The Board granted the TDIU claim based on the evidence showing his service-connected conditions precluded him from sedentary employment.

The Board has remanded several issues for further adjudication due to the need for additional medical records and a determination of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to scheduling issues and need for additional VA examinations.

The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability based on the submission of new and material evidence is denied. The claims for right hip, left hip disabilities, and carpal tunnel syndrome (right and left upper extremities) are remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for a right wrist injury, but remanded it for further development as there is insufficient evidence of current disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the left wrist is referred to the agency of original jurisdiction. The propriety of reducing his rating from 30 percent to 10 percent for postoperative residuals of carpal tunnel release surgery, left wrist (non-dominant) is remanded due to a lack of an SOC addressing CUE.

The Board denied service connection for dry mouth and bilateral CTS, as well as various rating claims. The Veteran's hallux valgus, pes planus, cervical spine conditions, and shoulder separation were all rated appropriately.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but the claims for left forearm, left leg, left wrist, and right forearm shrapnel wounds as well as a rating in excess of 30 percent for Parkinson's Disease are remanded due to need for further development.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of various conditions, including right wrist, left ankle, tonsillar hypertrophy, lung disorder (claimed as silicosis), and sleep apnea. The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder with anxiety disorder was granted a 50 percent rating effective April 30, 2009.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.