Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's right wrist open reduction, internal fixation with arthritis is rated at 70 percent effective May 1, 2021. He is also granted SMC based on loss of use of one hand and TDIU as due to this condition.

The Veteran is granted effective dates for TDIU, SMC, and DEA based on his service-connected conditions. The Board also determined that the Veteran's PTSD alone warrants a TDIU prior to May 31, 2024.

The Veteran's left wrist disability was granted a 10 percent rating from January 14, 2011 to September 7, 2020. A higher rating is denied and an earlier effective date for service connection of the wrist is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for fracture of the left distal radius was denied as a matter of law.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity (carpal tunnel syndrome) was also denied.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal of the service connection for a bilateral wrist condition before the decision was made.

The Veteran's right shoulder superior labral tear with rotator cuff tear of the superior labram and left wrist strain are granted service connection. The Veteran is also granted an initial disability rating of 40 percent for status post closed fracture of left ankle with ankylosis.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims at a hearing.

The appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected right upper extremity carpal tunnel is dismissed. The Veteran's entitlement to restoration of her 30 percent rating for tension headaches is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding her degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has found that new and relevant evidence supports readjudication of the claims for service connection for tinnitus, back condition, left wrist condition, right wrist condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as incurred in service. Claims for increased ratings for shoulder conditions and a compensable rating for tinea pedis are denied due to failure to report for scheduled examinations.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of May 26, 2011 for a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis.,The Veteran is also granted an effective date of May 26, 2011 for eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35.

The Board has granted service connection for recurrent right wrist sprain residuals and denied service connection for bilateral pes planus. The case is remanded for further evaluation of the Veteran's frostbite residuals.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder has been granted, while his claims for left wrist pain, fibromyalgia, IBS, and CFS have all been denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic left wrist arthritis was denied in February 2015. The effective date of the current service connection award is June 26, 2023.

The Board has granted service connection for both the right and left wrist conditions, finding that there is sufficient evidence to support the Veteran's claims.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right carpal tunnel syndrome, but dismissed the claim for service connection of a cervical spine condition (claimed as neck problem).

The Veteran's service-connected Generalized Anxiety Disorder alone does not result in functional impairment that precludes him from maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus TDIU for a single service-connected disability is denied.

The Veteran's right wrist degenerative arthritis was granted service connection. The increased ratings for left shoulder strain and left foot plantar fasciitis were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tension headaches and left and right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbosacral spine condition, left wrist condition, and left hand condition due to pre-decisional errors in obtaining evidence and developing his claims.