Wrist & hand decisions — 2025

The Board remanded the Veteran's claims for an additional VA examination to address the severity of her carpal tunnel syndrome prior to July 16, 2018.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of a 40 percent rating for left knee instability with osteoarthritis and special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The character of the appellant's uncharacterized discharge is not a bar to the receipt of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits; to this extent only, the claim is granted.

The Board remands the claims for service connection due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including inadequate VA examinations and failure to obtain etiological opinions.

The Board denied service connection for several disorders, granted service connection for tinnitus, and remanded additional claims for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for his left wrist condition, as there was no evidence of impairment of function or other criteria met for a compensable disability rating.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for tonic-clonic seizures or grand mal epilepsy, left and right carpal tunnel syndrome, back/spinal cord injury, and major depression due to pre-decisional errors in the duty to assist.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities, as well as left and right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a higher level of special monthly compensation (SMC) as he does not meet the criteria for an increased rate based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable criteria.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for limitation of flexion and degenerative disease of the right elbow from January 23, 2017, to August 28, 2020, but denied ratings in excess of 30 percent. A 10 percent rating was also granted for limitation of extension during this period.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a right foot disability, as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The appeals for service connection of prostate cancer, diabetes, GERD, and hypertension were dismissed due to the RO's subsequent grant of these conditions.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from March 23, 2011 to May 10, 2022, excluding the period of full-time employment from August 5, 2021 to December 4, 2021. The claims for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities were denied.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. The appeal seeking service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for right wrist strain, service connection for bilateral hearing loss and TBI, and dismissed the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board granted service connection for right wrist strain, finding that the evidence is at least in approximate balance regarding whether the condition resulted from active duty service.

The Board granted service connection for several conditions, including OSA, cervical spine condition, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, and others, but dismissed appeals for obesity, TMJ, insomnia, left elbow, and right elbow. The Board also denied an earlier effective date for a 70% rating for acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board granted an effective date of March 2, 2007, for the grant of service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy and November 26, 2014, for COPD, emphysema, and asthma. The claims for earlier effective dates were denied.

The Board granted service connection for right and left wrist disabilities manifested by pain, but dismissed the appeal for service connection for GERD.