Wrist & hand decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions due to toxic exposure during service, as required by the PACT Act.

The Veteran was granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD from June 22, 2018, and the claims for increased ratings for right ankle and left wrist disabilities were denied. The claims for service connection for an eye disorder, prostate disorder, and heart murmur with mild aortic stenosis were also denied.

The Board denied service connection for a right foot disorder, left foot disorder, right wrist disorder, left wrist disorder, left hand disorder, right hand disorder, and headaches as there was no evidence linking these conditions to any incident of service.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability and remanded the claims for left carpal tunnel syndrome/median nerve neuropathy (CTS) and right upper extremity neuropathy, including CTS and/or cubital tunnel syndrome/ulnar nerve neuropathy (CBTS).

The Board remands the matter for an additional opinion to address the Veteran's reports of arm numbness during service and a private treatment record.

The appeal for service connection for various conditions was dismissed as untimely because the Veteran did not timely file a VA Form 10182 within one year of the May 2021 rating decision, and good cause has not been shown.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of February 23, 2022, for the awards of service connection for a right wrist condition and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but denied an earlier effective date for basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance based on permanent and total disability status.

The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome was denied a higher rating prior to January 31, 2013, but from that date, he is granted ratings of 40 percent for the right hand and 30 percent for the left hand.

The Board granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for hypertension and lumbosacral strain (back pain) based on new evidence, while denying increased ratings for posttraumatic stress disorder with alcohol use disorder and tinnitus. The Board also remanded several other claims for further development.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disability and denied it for a right wrist disability, while remanding the claim for a cervical spine disability.

The Board denied service connection for a dental disorder, diagnosed as advanced periodontal disease, for compensation purposes. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral elbow condition, bilateral ankle condition, and bilateral wrist condition were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and various musculoskeletal conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and providing proper notice of the Veteran's right to a hearing.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all service connection claims, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review this appeal.

The Veteran's right wrist traumatic arthritis is granted a disability rating of 50 percent, while his service connection claim for the right shoulder disability is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus and a lumbar spine disability, and remanded service connection claims for carpal tunnel syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea.

The appeal for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and service connection for metatarsalgia (foot pain) (Morton's disease) (plantar fasciitis (also claimed as foot problems) was dismissed. The remaining claims were remanded for further development.

The Board granted increased ratings for the right and left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, effective August 14, 2024.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, headaches, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), while denying service connection for gastroenteritis. The rating assigned was 10 percent for left ankle scars and 20 percent for bilateral dry eye syndrome with pinguecula.

The Board remands the appeal for new VA examinations to determine whether any bilateral shoulder disabilities, bilateral wrist disabilities, a cervical spine disability, and/or a thoracolumbar spine disability had their onset during, or are otherwise related to, the Veteran's military service.