Wrist & hand decisions — 2025

The Veteran was granted an initial rating of 100 percent for hyperthyroidism and a 40 percent rating for residuals of removal of a ganglion cyst, left wrist. The appeal regarding TDIU is dismissed as moot, but SMC at the housebound rate was granted from January 11, 2005.

The Board denied service connection for tooth loss, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right and left upper extremities, and a right middle finger disability as there was no evidence showing that these conditions were incurred in or caused by service.

The appeal for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome to include diarrhea was dismissed, and the claims for service connection for shin splints, right wrist condition, and left wrist condition were denied.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including neck, low back, hand, shoulder, knee, wrist, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, hemorrhoids, psychiatric disorder, toenail fungus, hearing loss, and migraines, as there was no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service.

The Board granted the appellant's eligibility for direct payment of attorney fees based on a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, but denied it for increased ratings for certain conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection and initial ratings for certain conditions, denied service connection for an eating disorder and a facial injury, and denied higher ratings for several musculoskeletal and respiratory conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board dismissed all pending claims.

The Board granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, solar lentigines, and acne as manifestations of a medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness (MUCMI), while denying an increased rating for PTSD with residuals of traumatic brain injury. The Board also granted initial ratings for migraine and tension headaches, right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, and left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hand gout arthritis with reduced grip strength and bilateral wrist/arm sprain and carpal tunnel due to an incomplete VA medical opinion.

The Board granted service connection for right and left upper extremity and right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, to include as due to exposure to herbicide agents. The claim for a left wrist disability was remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for right wrist pain and dysfunction, right wrist residual surgical scar (right wrist scar), and pseudofolliculitis barbae.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, left ankle disability, and right elbow disability after new evidence was submitted. The claim for a right shoulder disability was denied. Various knee and scar ratings were either granted or denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for chronic left wrist sprain, chronic right wrist sprain, and lumbosacral strain to obtain additional medical opinions that address the appellant's lay statements about the onset and history of his symptoms.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to untimely filing of the Board Appeal requests.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for the Veteran's right wrist condition and a 60 percent rating for residuals of his right partial shoulder replacement, except during periods of convalescence following surgery.

The appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was dismissed, while the Veteran's left wrist disorder (arthritis) and certain finger disabilities were granted service connection.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hernia repair, left and right knee conditions, left and right wrist conditions, a low back condition, and a neck condition to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board remands the claims for a compensable rating and service connection due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors, including missing VA treatment records and unfulfilled examination requests.

All appeals for higher initial ratings and service connection were dismissed as they were duplicative of previously addressed appeals or due to untimely filings.

The Board granted restoration of the 30 percent evaluation for bilateral flat feet and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. Various claims for increased ratings and service connection were remanded.