Wrist & hand decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected right ankle sprain with instability and degenerative arthritis, non-dominant left wrist synovial cyst, and painful scar of the left hand due to an inadequate VA examination.

The appeal for increased ratings for left wrist sprain and bilateral hearing loss was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board granted increased disability ratings of 30 percent for right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome and 20 percent for left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the claims for left ear hearing loss and bilateral ganglion cyst on dorsal wrist.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding a link to the Veteran's service-connected wrist and bilateral knee disabilities that caused obesity.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, finding the disability manifested with mild incomplete paralysis.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and chronic right and left ankle sprains, but denied service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability and PTSD. The claims for a left ear hearing loss disability, chronic left wrist sprain, back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and right foot disability were remanded.

The appeal for service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome is dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The appeal for entitlement to service connection for a right-hand disorder, to include carpal tunnel syndrome, is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and medical opinion.

The appeal seeking entitlement to service connection for left wrist arthritis is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, right wrist disability, and left wrist disability as there was no evidence of these conditions being caused by or related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board remands the claims for a right wrist disability to obtain more current examination evidence due to reported worsening of symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for an oral disability, claimed as gum disease, and remanded the claims for a bilateral wrist disorder and a bilateral elbow disorder.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of October 9, 2018, for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC) pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).

The Board granted an initial 30 percent rating for sinusitis and GERD, but denied higher ratings for asthma, allergic rhinitis, left inguinal hernia, scar, fatigue, right shoulder, right wrist, bilateral leg, left shoulder, and left wrist disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a left hand/thumb disability and a left wrist disability, as there was no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board remands the claims for further development to correct duty to assist errors that occurred prior to the rating decisions on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for right wrist, right elbow, and left elbow disabilities as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for a right wrist condition and a right shoulder, degenerative arthritis, other than posttraumatic (previously claimed as right shoulder arthralgia) because the appeals were untimely.

The Veteran is granted SMC at the L rate based on the need for regular aid and attendance since November 1, 2017, but denied prior to that date.