Wrist & hand decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for hypertension, left elbow pain as secondary to a service-connected condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The increased rating claim for the left wrist was denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, left and right upper extremities, to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board granted service connection for chronic diarrhea (also claimed as irritable bowel syndrome) and remanded the claims for pleuritis, sinusitis, left wrist tendinopathy (tendinitis), and bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The appeal was dismissed due to the untimely submission of a notice of disagreement within one year of the May 2014 rating decision.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for post-concussion headaches and remanded the issue of service connection for a right wrist condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome as it was not timely filed.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70 percent rating prior to June 7, 2019, from the earlier effective date of June 1, 2016, and denied an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD from June 6, 2014, to June 1, 2016.

The appeal of the proposed disability rating reduction for PTSD was dismissed due to it not constituting an adverse final decision that may be appealed.

The Board remands the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to January 31, 2023, as the evidence of record is insufficient to properly evaluate the Veteran's claim.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and remanded the claims for left upper extremity CTS and right upper extremity CTS.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date of service connection for left thumb tendonitis and a higher initial disability rating for bilateral glaucoma, and remanded several other claims for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, left wrist disability, and sleep apnea as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board granted service connection for triangular fibrocartilaginous complex injury with fusion, SLAC, and osteoarthritis of the right wrist, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to the Veteran's failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity as new and relevant evidence was not submitted to prove a link between the condition and military service.

The Board granted service connection for skin cancer disability, finding it related to the Veteran's in-service exposure to the sun while working as an aircraft mechanic.

The Board granted an earlier effective date for a 40 percent rating for right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, effective from June 21, 2012.

The Veteran was granted an effective date of January 10, 2023 for a 50 percent rating for migraine headaches and TDIU based on PTSD. SMC based on housebound status was also granted.

The Board granted service connection for several conditions, including a 10 percent rating for nasal fracture residuals and bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, dermatosis, lumbosacral disorder, left wrist disorder, left knee disorder, right ankle disorder, PTSD, chronic sinusitis, and IBS. The remaining issues were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bursitis of both wrists due to a need for a VA examination.