Wrist & hand decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, carpal tunnel syndrome (left and right hands), and migraines, to include as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for left hand arthritis, a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the left wrist, and a compensable rating for left 4th digit mallet finger.

The appeal for service connection for 14 issues, including hearing loss, tinnitus, neck pain, and others, was dismissed due to a procedural defect in the docketing of the appeal.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for left carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) effective April 20, 2023, and denied an increased rating prior to that date.

The application to reopen the claims for a skin condition (claimed as acne) and left wrist ganglion cyst were denied, while service connection for tinnitus was granted.

The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome in both upper extremities.

The Board granted service connection for multiple orthopedic disabilities related to injuries sustained while wrestling in service.

The Board denied service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and remanded claims for bilateral wrist and hand disabilities.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for left carpal tunnel syndrome due to an incomplete VA examination and addendum opinion.

The Board denied service connection for multiple disabilities, including right and left wrist, hand, hip, ankle, elbow, respiratory, chest pain, hypotension, and throat conditions. However, the Board granted service connection for a respiratory disability, diagnosed as dyspnea.

The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for left knee instability from June 14, 2017, to July 28, 2021, and restored the 40 percent rating for left lower extremity deep vein thrombosis effective June 1, 2021. The Board denied a higher rating for left knee instability after July 28, 2021, and a compensable rating for left knee limitation of flexion.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and increased ratings to obtain additional evidence, including VA medical opinions addressing the nexus between the Veteran's claimed disabilities and toxic exposure during service in Kuwait.

The Board granted service connection for residuals of a left wrist injury, left calf scar, and right elbow lateral epicondylitis. The claims for residuals of a left calf injury and left shoulder impingement syndrome were remanded.

The Board remands the service connection claims for right and left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome to correct pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, finding it to be related to noise exposure during active service. The issues regarding carpal tunnel syndrome were remanded for further evidence.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right wrist tendonitis with history of ganglion cyst and entitlement to a TDIU due to insufficient evidence.

The Board granted service connection for left knee instability, lumbosacral and thoracic strain, pain and dysfunction of the left wrist, and tension headaches. A separate 10 percent rating was granted for left knee instability effective May 11, 2021.

The Board remands the service connection claims for left hand condition, left wrist, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as further development is needed to properly adjudicate these claims.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection and a compensable evaluation, resulting in the dismissal of all claims.

The appeal regarding the rating reduction proposal for GERD was dismissed, and a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) was granted.