Wrist & hand decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and to determine whether there is a nexus between his claimed conditions and his military service, including any toxic exposure during the Gulf War.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for right wrist sprain to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically the failure to obtain an etiology opinion.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for all claims, including those for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for right wrist scapholunate tear with DISI deformity and right shoulder impingement syndrome with degenerative arthritis.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence was in approximate balance. Other claims were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a back/lumbar condition, neck/cervical condition, and right upper extremity ulnar nerve impairment, to include carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for left and right hand arthritis, as there is no current diagnosis of arthritis in the Veteran's hands. The claims for service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left hip arthritis, and left shoulder rotator cuff tendinopathy are remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder with alcohol use disorder, moderate, but denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for left foot first metatarsophalangeal joint degenerative arthritis. The claims for service connection for PTSD, sleep apnea, cervical spine disorder, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right wrist disorder and left wrist disorder were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for headaches as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, but denied service connection for asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, and left tibia fracture.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and bilateral trigger finger, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board granted initial ratings of 50 percent for adjustment disorder with depressed mood, and 50 percent and 40 percent for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity and left upper extremity, respectively.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including a bilateral eye disability, right ear hearing loss, asthma, tuberculosis, carpal tunnel syndrome, sleep disorder, and gum disease, as the evidence did not support the presence of these disabilities during or near the time of the Veteran's active service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, left shoulder disability, and right wrist disability due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral lung disability, to include COPD, and carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity due to a lack of evidence showing current disabilities related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for several conditions, including a neck condition, dizziness, and various limb conditions, as there was no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrences. The claims for a bladder disability, chronic cough, rhinitis, bilateral foot condition, and liver condition were remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for the left wrist radial collateral ligament fracture, finding that it began during active service. The claim for status post septoplasty was remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including chronic dry eye, chronic fatigue syndrome, constipation, IBS, and multiple finger disabilities, as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis or a link to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, as the evidence did not show that she was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for several musculoskeletal disabilities and remanded the claim for a lumbar spine disability for readjudication, while also remanding claims for other musculoskeletal conditions.

The Board denied the claims for an increased rating and service connection, but remanded certain issues for further development.

The Board denied service connection for depression, peptic ulcer, bilateral hearing loss, vertigo, bilateral ankle condition, bilateral elbow condition, foot condition, bilateral hip condition, bilateral knee condition, and bilateral wrist condition as the persuasive weight of the evidence indicated these conditions were not etiologically related to active service.