Wrist & hand decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and granted a rating of 20 percent, but no higher, for right knee meniscus tear, post arthroscopic surgery.

The Board granted service connection for left knee pain and dysfunction, increased the rating for CTS of the left wrist to 30 percent, and remanded the issue of service connection for trigger finger of the left ring finger.

The Board denied disability ratings in excess of the current 20 percent for degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine post laminectomy, 20 percent for residuals of a fractured right clavicle, 10 percent for right knee chondromalacia, and 10 percent for residuals of a right wrist fracture.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various hand and wrist conditions due to a need for new VA addendum opinions.

The Board denied service connection for right and left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's left shoulder, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and right hip disabilities but granted a 20 percent rating from December 30, 2023, for right hip osteoarthritis.

The Board denied an increased rating for major depressive disorder and remanded claims for service connection for bilateral foot, mid and low back, and right wrist disabilities due to new evidence being received.

The Board granted increased ratings of 20 percent for the left upper extremity median nerve incomplete paralysis and 30 percent for the right upper extremity median nerve incomplete paralysis, but remanded issues related to separate disability ratings for neuralgia.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings in excess of 10 percent for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, and right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome to ensure that VA's responsibilities under the duty to assist are followed.

The Board denied increased ratings for various service-connected conditions, except for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) which was granted a 30 percent rating.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing the Veteran has a current disability for VA purposes. The claims for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and carpal tunnel syndrome are being remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for tinea pedis and remanded claims for increased rating and additional service connection.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not cause the level of impairment required for a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome as it was not shown in service or for many years thereafter and is not otherwise related to active-duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected chronic left wrist sprain, as he already receives a 10 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5215 and there is no evidence of ankylosis or functional equivalent thereof.

The veteran's service from October 6, 2013 to October 5, 2017 is considered honorable for VA benefits purposes and he was granted service connection for hemorrhoids, left carpal tunnel syndrome, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and surgical scars as secondary to CTS. However, his discharge from October 6, 2017 to November 25, 2020 bars him from receiving VA benefits.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for all service connection and increased rating claims, effective March 14, 2025.

The Board denied service connection for respiratory conditions, bilateral upper extremity conditions, and carpal tunnel syndrome of the upper extremities but granted service connection for night sweats as they are proximately due to a service-connected condition.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, post-operative residuals of cervical spine surgery, L5 bilateral spondylosis with grade 1 anterolisthesis, moderate-severe foraminal stenosis, left hip osteoarthritis, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, left lateral collateral ligament sprain, pes planus, and type II diabetes mellitus. The service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.