Wrist & hand decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as an earlier effective date for hypertension.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating prior to July 21, 2023, for her right wrist scar as it did not meet the criteria under applicable VA regulations.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a brain-related disability, right hand disability, left wrist disability, right wrist disability, left knee disability, and skin disability (other than tinea pedis), to obtain additional evidence.

The Board granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD with traumatic brain injury from July 14, 2015 and remanded claims for service connection of various disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a left wrist disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and cardiomyopathy as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board remands the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion and advising the Veteran of relevant records.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a right wrist disability, and a left wrist disability as there is no evidence of current disabilities.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of September 27, 2023, for the award of service connection for right hand carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board denied increased ratings for several service-connected conditions and granted some separate evaluations, while remanding others.

The Board remands the claims for an initial disability rating greater than 20 percent for left shoulder tendonitis and greater than 10 percent for both left and right carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as for a compensable initial disability rating for right carpal tunnel scar and right shoulder scar.

The Board granted service connection for cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disabilities, bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis, tinnitus, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, digestive disabilities including irritable bowel syndrome with abdominal pain and nausea, pelvic organ disabilities, iron deficiency anemia, and genital herpes. Service connection was denied for acne, tendonitis, fibromyalgia, painful joints, left shin splints, right shin splints, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, left carpal tunnel syndrome, right carpal tunnel syndrome, respiratory infection, GERD, PTSD, anxiety condition, manic-depressive reaction, and psychiatric disorder other than unspecified depressive disorder with symptoms of suicidal ideation. An initial 50% rating was granted for the service-connected unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board granted service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic sinusitis, chronic headaches, dermatosis of arms and legs, uterine fibroids, bilateral shoulder disability, left wrist disability, and PTSD. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU, dismissing one claim due to a withdrawal.

The Board remands the claim for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome is related to service.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection claims related to various pain conditions and fibromyalgia, leading to their dismissal.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection claims related to various pain conditions and fibromyalgia, leading to their dismissal.

The appeal of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus was dismissed due to the absence of a controversy at issue.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection claims related to various pain conditions and fibromyalgia, leading to their dismissal.

The Board granted service connection for left knee strain with hemiplegia and denied service connection for GERD and right wrist carpal tunnel disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral knee, right hip, and right wrist disabilities due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in failing to ensure all service medical records are associated with the file and providing an adequate VA examination.