Wrist & hand decisions — 2025

The Board denied increased ratings for PTSD with alcohol use disorder and OSA, but granted service connection for chronic right wrist sprain, GERD secondary to PTSD, right sciatic pain secondary to lumbosacral strain, and recurrent bilateral ear infections.

The Veteran's migraines are reasonably shown to have manifested by very frequent, completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability, warranting a 50 percent rating.

The Board denied an earlier effective date prior to October 7, 2013 for service connection and denied a disability rating in excess of 10 percent prior to November 15, 2023. However, the Board granted a 30 percent disability rating from November 15, 2023.

The Board denied service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability and chronic fatigue syndrome, granted service connection for a chronic right wrist sprain, and assigned a 10 percent rating for a left knee scar. The remaining issues were remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for his right ring finger disability and service connection for a right wrist disability, finding no evidence to support either claim.

The Board granted service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy as it is etiologically linked to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes. Other claims were remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, OSA, bilateral knee disorders, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and a GI disorder as there was no evidence of these conditions during the appeal period. The claims were denied based on the lack of medical evidence supporting current diagnoses.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities, including cervical spine degenerative arthritis, right thumb disability, left wrist scars, and right thumb scar.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for post-traumatic arthritis, left wrist, and scar, right hand index finger injury.

The appeal was dismissed due to a procedural defect in the Veteran's submissions, as review of the May 2022 and March 2022 rating decisions could only be sought 'in one review lane at a time.'

The Board granted service connection for PTSD, a low back disability, a right wrist carpal tunnel disability, a left knee disability, a left shoulder disability, tinnitus, and allergies.

The Veteran withdrew his entire appeal, and the Board dismissed all related issues.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including iron deficiency anemia, acute pharyngitis, adenovirus infection, chlamydia, female sexual arousal disorder (secondary to chlamydia), low back pain, left knee pain, right knee pain, right wrist pain, dermatitis/eczema, acne, and tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for bursitis affecting the Veteran's bilateral ankles, elbows, hips, shoulders, and wrists as there was no evidence of a current disability during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right shoulder disability and carpal tunnel syndrome to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), left foot disability, right foot disability, and right wrist disability as the weight of evidence did not support a finding of current chronic diagnoses or functional limitations.

The Board remands the claims for additional development, including obtaining a supplemental opinion regarding the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome and osteoarthritis/neurological conditions, as well as functional impairment estimates absent medication effects.

The Veteran was granted a 50 percent rating for her right carpal tunnel syndrome from August 15, 2023, but the claim for an increased rating for left CTS was denied.

The Board denied service connection for right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome and denied an increased rating for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, but granted a separate 10 percent disability rating for tinnitus.

The appeal was dismissed as the February 2024 rating decision, which granted service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome and painful scar, did not constitute an initial decision to which the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) applies.