Wrist & hand decisions — 2026

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not meet eligibility requirements for PCAFC based on a November 2023 claim due to lack of personal care services. However, the Board finds the CEAT review consultation inadequate and remands the case for further clarification.

The Board has dismissed the claims for left wrist disability, TBI, and lower back condition due to withdrawal by the Veteran's representative. The cervical injury, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy service connection claims are remanded as new evidence supports reopening these claims.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, chronic fatigue syndrome, and a back disability. Service connection was granted for left and right carpal tunnel syndromes.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to an improper concurrent election of review options, as the Higher-Level Review requests were still pending and not withdrawn at the time the VA Form 10182 was submitted.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his service-connected right ankle, knee, thumb, little finger, index finger, long finger disabilities, scars, and PTSD have been dismissed.,No new or material evidence was received within one year of the notice of decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to a lack of VA examination and consideration of the evidence, including Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from working, and he has the necessary skills to transition into suitable employment without direct intervention of Chapter 31 benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for right hand carpal tunnel syndrome as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability, finding that the evidence is in approximate balance regarding whether the service-connected right shoulder disability caused the right hand CTS.

The Board has granted service connection for left wrist strain and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's right shoulder condition, carpal tunnel syndrome, and PTSD are being remanded for further evaluation.,No specific service connection rating has been assigned as the appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board has determined that there are errors in the decision-making process and requires additional development to ensure compliance with VA's duty to assist. The Veteran is entitled to service connection for various conditions, but further evidence is needed due to missing service records.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error and for obtaining new medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right hand disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left wrist ganglion cyst removal is remanded due to the failure to obtain relevant private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to carpal tunnel of the wrists, restless leg syndrome, and a left little finger disability have been granted with effective dates set at October 18, 2017. The claim for insomnia disorder and GAD has also been granted with an effective date of February 12, 2021.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left wrist osteoarthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome due to potential secondary service connection via aggravation of a pre-existing condition. The Veteran's service records indicate chronic pain in his left hand, including during military service.

The Veteran's BPPV is granted as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus.,A 30 percent rating for left wrist limitation of motion is granted, with a change in the diagnostic code from 5215 to 5214.

SMC at the housebound rate is granted.,A rating in excess of 60 percent for service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, is denied.,A rating in excess of 40 percent for service-connected right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is denied.,A rating in excess of 40 percent for service-connected left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is denied.,A rating in excess of 40 percent for service-connected right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome and diabetic peripheral neuropathy is denied.,A rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome and diabetic peripheral neuropathy is denied.,A rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected diabetic nephropathy is denied.,A compensable rating for service-connected erectile dysfunction is denied.,A compensable rating for service-connected pseudophakia with diabetic retinopathy is denied.,A rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is denied.,An effective date earlier than November 6, 2009, for the establishment of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 2, 2022, for the establishment of service connection for diabetic nephropathy is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 2, 2022, for the establishment of service connection for left carpal tunnel release scar is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 24, 2010, for basic eligibility for education benefits under Chapter 35 (DEA) is denied.

The Veteran's asthma was granted service connection due to in-service exposure and continued symptoms since discharge. The right wrist disability was denied as not related to service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals pertaining to whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for left wrist and left ankle disabilities, due to a defect in compliance with applicable claim processing rules.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, anxiety disorder, PTSD, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, neck disorder, and left wrist disorder have been dismissed as the evidence does not support these conditions.,Service connection was previously granted for major depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder in a December 2020 rating decision.