Wrist & hand decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for parkinsonism as it is caused by the medications used to treat his service-connected major depressive disorder. The left ankle and carpal tunnel syndrome issues were remanded for further development.

The Board remands the issues of higher initial disability ratings for right and left carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as a TDIU, due to pending development including scheduled VA examinations.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right wrist disability, including as due to an undiagnosed or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness and/or as secondary to a service-connected disability, for further development.

The Board remands the claims for additional development to address concerns raised by a Joint Motion for Remand, specifically regarding inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Board remanded the case for further development, including an adequate VA examination and a determination of whether separate ratings or service connection are warranted for paresthesias and/or muscle atrophy as distinct disabilities of the Veteran's service-connected left wrist or left-hand disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for right wrist, left wrist, neck, and right shoulder disabilities but denied service connection for migraines, sleep apnea, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, including left and right shoulder disabilities, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and an ear disorder, as there was no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board denied service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the condition and the Veteran's active service.

The Board denied service connection for memory loss, a low back disability, an eye disorder, and bilateral hearing loss. Tinnitus was granted, but the Veteran's left wrist scar did not warrant a compensable rating.

The appeal for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, a recurrent jaw disability, a recurrent left wrist disability, a recurrent bladder disability, erectile dysfunction, and a psychiatric disability to include a depressive disorder and an adjustment disorder has been dismissed.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied a compensable disability rating for hypertension. Several issues related to increased ratings were remanded.

The Board granted initial ratings of 10 percent for the right thumb fracture and 20 percent for both lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, as well as service connection for upper extremity diabetic neuropathy secondary to diabetes mellitus type I.

The appeal was dismissed for procedural defects under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) appellate review system.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left wrist disability, right shoulder disability, medial epicondylitis of the right elbow, and an acquired psychiatric disability as new and relevant evidence has been received to reopen these claims.

The Board remands the claims for further development and to ensure due process is followed.

The Board granted an increased rating of 30 percent for the service-connected left great toe fracture and granted service connection for residuals of right and left wrist fractures as secondary to the service-connected left great toe. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a groin disability was remanded.

The appeal for service connection for a cervical strain is dismissed, while the other claims are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of CTS, finding that October 25, 2023 was the appropriate date as it marked when competent evidence established the onset of symptoms during active duty with continuous symptoms since then.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for various conditions and denied service connection for erectile dysfunction and a vestibular disorder. An initial rating of 10 percent was granted for right ankle degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied the claims for an earlier effective date, TDIU, and service connection for various conditions due to insufficient evidence of worsening within one year prior to the claim dates.