Wrist & hand decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, and tinnitus. The increased evaluation claim for pes planus was denied, as was the increase in rating for the right wrist fracture. The reduction of the right wrist rating from 10 percent to 0 percent was found improper, restoring the 10 percent rating.

The Board granted service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist based on a medical nexus between an in-service incurrence and the current diagnosis.

The Board remands the claims for initial ratings higher than the assigned percentages for service-connected conditions, including migraine headaches, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, lumbosacral strain, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including a left knee disability, CTS in both hands and hips, MDD, and OSA, due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for osteoarthritis of the left wrist and a back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The appeal was dismissed as the Veteran did not timely file a Board Appeal request.

The appeal for service connection and increased ratings was dismissed due to untimely filing of the notice of disagreement.

The Board denied service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and denied initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for unspecified follicular disorders, left wrist disability, and right wrist disability. The denial was based on the lack of evidence supporting a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder and the absence of symptoms that would warrant higher ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left wrist and right ankle disabilities, as well as a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected scars.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, dismissing or denying all appeals.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and dismissed the claims for lumbosacral strain, migraine headaches, and acne. The claims for acquired psychiatric disorder and left wrist condition were remanded.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinea pedis with onychomycosis and remanded the claims for service connection for psychiatric disorder, right sciatic radiculopathy, left sciatic radiculopathy, and right wrist disability.

The Board denied service connection for all the claimed conditions as there was no evidence of a current disability or that any of the disabilities were related to active duty.

The Veteran's right wrist limitation of motion with degenerative joint disease was granted a 30 percent rating, but no higher, effective November 26, 2013. The claim for a higher rating starting November 4, 2020, was denied, and SMC(k) based on the loss of use of the right hand was granted effective from November 4, 2020.

The Board granted service connection for a right wrist condition, to include carpal tunnel syndrome, based on the Veteran's credible reports of pain and weakness since service.

The Board remands the claims for a higher disability rating for left wrist, lower back, right hip, and right shoulder disabilities, as well as an increased rating for left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, to obtain a supplemental opinion that evaluates the baseline severity of these conditions without considering the effects of medication.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including fatigue, bilateral eye disability, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, GERD, penile condition, left foot disability, and others. Some claims were remanded for further development.

The Board granted restoration of a 20 percent rating for the service-connected lumbosacral strain, effective May 1, 2023. The other claims were denied.