Wrist & hand decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for Parkinson's disease with right wrist tremors and bilateral lower extremity neurological manifestations, finding the evidence to be in approximate balance regarding a link to in-service toxic exposures.

The Veteran was granted a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from February 26, 2018.

The Board remands the claims for a VA examination to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors and obtain an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for cervical strain, lumbar strain, left foot plantar fasciitis, right foot plantar fasciitis, post traumatic residual pain dysfunction of the right wrist, right wrist surgical scars, bilateral tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The character of discharge was also found not to bar VA benefits.

The Board granted an effective date of July 18, 2018, for the award of service connection for a psychiatric disability and a 30 percent rating for GERD, while denying service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome, remanding claims for service connection for right and left ankle disorders and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board remands the claim for an addendum medical opinion that fully considers the combined effects of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including any side effects from medications.

The Board denied the claims for increased ratings for left forearm and wrist disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings.

The Board denied separate compensable ratings for limitation of motion of the right and left wrists, thumbs, and index fingers associated with the Veteran's service-connected CTS.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral flat feet, low back disability, left wrist disorder, and GERD. The Board also remanded claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and TDIU.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded several claims, including those for back disability, left wrist disability, and others.

The Board granted service connection for right shoulder arthritis, left shoulder arthritis, left wrist arthritis, left foot arthritis, and heart disability, to include coronary artery disease (CAD), as the evidence was approximately evenly balanced in favor of the Veteran. The claims for diabetes mellitus and kidney disability were remanded for further development.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, eye disorder, bilateral hammertoes, and muscle and joint disorders to ensure compliance with prior remand orders.

The Board denied several claims for service connection and higher ratings, granted service connection for a right knee disability and a right wrist disability as secondary to the service-connected right little finger, fifth metacarpal, degenerative arthritis, and remanded other claims.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded claims for service connection for various other disorders, including left wrist, right knee, left knee, cervical spine, upper extremity neurological, thoracolumbar spine, left foot, right foot, left ankle, and right ankle disorders.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right wrist, carpal tunnel syndrome to correct a duty to assist error related to inadequate VA examination opinions.

The Board granted an initial rating of 50 percent, but no greater, for right carpal tunnel syndrome and an initial rating of 40 percent, but no greater, for left carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) as the evidence did not support a direct link to service or any presumptive basis.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, finding that the evidence was at least in equipoise that it began during active service and has continued since. Other issues were remanded for further development.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right and left hand and wrist disorders due to a lack of current diagnosis and unsecured private treatment records.

The Board denied an effective date prior to February 10, 2021, for the grant of service connection for PTSD with alcohol and cannabis use disorders, as well as increased ratings for various disabilities.