Wrist & hand decisions — 2025

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection of back pain and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The Board found that the medical examiner did not adequately consider all relevant evidence, including the veteran's lay statements and service treatment records.

The Board dismissed the appeals for pseudofolliculitis barbae and rhinitis. Service connection was denied for several conditions, including neurological damage in both legs, IBS, GERD, cervical spine disability, migraines, plantar fasciitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, dry skin, erectile dysfunction, right knee disability, low back pain with arthritis and instability, and sinusitis. The appeals for left ankle disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and HIV were remanded.

The veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist DeQuervain's syndrome and TBI residuals were granted. The claim for a compensable disability rating for right knee strain was denied, but a separate 10 percent rating for painful flexion was granted. All other claims for increased ratings were denied.

The veteran's service connection for tinnitus and both knee conditions was granted. Other claims were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed disabilities, including foot, ankle, knee, wrist, back, joint pain, mouth, erectile dysfunction, IBS, headache, tinnitus, and psychiatric disorders.

The veteran's service connection for right knee strain, left knee strain, lumbosacral strain, left shoulder strain, and right elbow strain was granted. The issues of right foot pain and left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions and denied higher ratings and earlier effective dates for the foot conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection for cervical radiculitis and headaches associated with photophobia were granted. The claims for right wrist condition, left wrist condition, and sleep apnea were remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left wrist tendinitis, finding that his condition is due to a motorcycle accident during active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right wrist scaphoid fracture, stating that there was no evidence of ankylosis.

The Board denied service connection for multiple disabilities but remanded the claims for psychiatric disability and sleep disturbances.

The Board remanded the claim for an initial rating greater than 30 percent for cervical strain with degenerative arthritis due to insufficient objective evidence regarding neurological abnormalities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher disability rating for left wrist fracture and bilateral hearing loss, stating that the criteria for these ratings were not met.

The veteran's PTSD with TBI was rated at 100% from August 1, 2022 to March 19, 2023. The veteran also qualifies for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a disability rating higher than 10 percent for both left and right wrist tendinitis.

The Board dismissed all claims due to concurrent election of review options, which is prohibited. The Veteran had multiple appeals pending for the same issues.

The veteran's claims for service connection for several conditions were denied. However, the veteran was granted an initial 10 percent rating for Bell's palsy and an initial 50 percent rating for migraine headaches and sleep apnea. Several other issues were remanded for further review.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for left wrist tendinitis and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, as well as service connection for PTSD and shin pain, were denied. Claims for service connection for other conditions were remanded.

The veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied due to lack of new and relevant evidence. The veteran's claims for increased ratings for erectile dysfunction, right wrist surgery, right wrist surgical scar, and right knee osteoarthritis were also denied. However, the reduction in the disability rating for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis was restored to 20 percent.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions and a higher rating for the left ankle disability.