Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's asthma and xerosis cutis have been granted initial ratings, but the right upper extremity neurological disability and left upper extremity neurological disability claims are being remanded for further development.,Service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is also being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board has decided to remand the veteran's claims for asthma, right shoulder disability, right wrist disability, left wrist disability, right knee disability, and right ankle disability due to a voided enlistment in the United States Air Force. The service department needs clarification on whether the enlistment was voided.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, sleep apnea, bilateral wrist condition, and right knee condition have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for right wrist disorder and left wrist disorder, finding that the Veteran's current bilateral wrist conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded 16 claims for service connection due to a failure to provide notice of the right to a hearing on a supplemental claim.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased initial ratings for right and left carpal tunnel syndrome, including earlier effective dates for the application of 40 percent and 30 percent ratings respectively, are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied service connection for a left wrist disorder and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right wrist degenerative arthritis. The Veteran does not have a current disability of a left wrist disorder, and his right wrist degenerative arthritis has not resulted in ankylosis or the functional equivalent thereof.

The appeal of the issues related to eczema and acne, carpal tunnel syndrome, cervical spine disability, shoulder disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, gastritis and GERD with hiatal hernia, and sleep disturbances have been dismissed.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee pain with shin splints is denied. A rating of 10 percent, and no higher, for left leg shin splints is granted.

The Veteran's left wrist strain is granted service connection, with the effective date being from the date of claim (April 2024).,Service-connected schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, has been granted a 100% disability evaluation, but an earlier effective date prior to February 6, 2024, is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hand disability, including exertional paresthesias and carpal tunnel syndrome, is granted as service-connected. The decision also remands the issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of right knee tendinitis, left knee tendinitis, and chronic right wrist sprain have been granted.,New evidence submitted by the Veteran has led to a readjudication of his previously denied claims.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for left and right carpal tunnel syndrome due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding the onset of these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD with depression and anxiety, bilateral carpal tunnel, lower back injury strain, and cervical spine injury strain as there is no persuasive evidence that these conditions began during or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance, which grants entitlement to special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance. The issue of entitlement to special monthly compensation at a housebound rate is moot due to the grant of aid and attendance.

The Board has determined that the VA examination obtained prior to the decision was inadequate and requires a new examination to determine if the Veteran's left wrist disability is related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for sleep apnea, asthma, and right lung granulomatous disease have been dismissed. The Veteran's bilateral hip disability, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and right carpal tunnel syndrome have been granted.,The Veteran's bilateral hand arthritis has also been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to unresolved medical questions regarding whether the Veteran's left wrist disability results in the functional equivalent of ankylosis, and because the rating criteria for evaluating musculoskeletal disabilities were amended effective February 7, 2021. The VA is required to consider the severity of the Veteran's left wrist disability without considering ameliorative effects of his medication.

The Veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates for service connection of various conditions has been dismissed as the claims are final due to lack of timely appeal within one year of the October 2009 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for erectile dysfunction, ankle, elbow, hip, knee, shoulder, wrist, and back disabilities due to incomplete VA opinions. The Veteran is requested to undergo further examination to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including sinusitis, back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, and right wrist disability are remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Board requires VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of these conditions.