Wrist & hand decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claim for a certificate of eligibility for financial assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing and an earlier effective date for SMC at the housebound rate has been denied. The Veteran does not meet the specific legal criteria required to establish eligibility for these benefits.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The Board requires additional medical opinions regarding the severity of his right arm disability, etiology of his bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and etiology of his migraines.

The Veteran was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities from October 4, 2006, to November 18, 2008. The Board found that the Veteran's right wrist condition prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right wrist tendonitis and right ankle anterior lateral instability have been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, which is the highest assignable rating under applicable diagnostic codes.,A higher rating for either condition is not warranted as there is no evidence of ankylosis or other conditions that would justify a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left wrist and left ankle disabilities due to a defect in the submission of the Notice of Disagreement (NOD). The Veteran must submit a proper VA Form 21-0958 as an NOD, which will then trigger the issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC) by the agency of original jurisdiction.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for various conditions, including PTSD, neck disability, low back disability, wrist sprains, and left foot dermatitis with dermatophytosis, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings in any of these cases.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including right shoulder strain, left shoulder strain, left hip osteoarthritis, left wrist degenerative arthritis, right wrist degenerative arthritis, left elbow degenerative arthritis, and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, and left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome. The Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's application for PCAFC benefits was denied due to not meeting the criteria of needing personal care services based on activities of daily living. The Board found that the decision summary and reasoning were inadequate, and thus remanded the case for further review.

The Board has remanded the claims for left and right shoulder pain, a left ankle condition, cervical spine pain, respiratory issues, bilateral hearing loss, and residuals of a head injury due to incomplete medical records and inadequate VA examinations.,Incomplete service treatment records are noted, which may affect the determination of service connection.

The reduction in the disability rating for right wrist sprain from 70 percent to 10 percent was improper, and restoration of the 70 percent rating is granted. The Veteran's entitlement to service connection for a left wrist disability as secondary to his service-connected right wrist sprain is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to duty-to-assist errors and insufficient evidence regarding his Reserve service. The claims for left wrist injury, scar, psychiatric disorder, thumb disorders, TMJ, jaw infection, and dental disorder are being reviewed again.

The Veteran's right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome and left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome are currently rated at 30 percent and 20 percent, respectively. The Board denied the claims for higher ratings as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DC 8515.,The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the right ankle and left ankle are both currently rated at 10 percent. The Board denied the claims for higher ratings as there is no evidence that meets the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5003-5271.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for left carpal tunnel syndrome was denied by the Board. The condition is currently rated at 30 percent, which reflects mild incomplete paralysis of the major extremity.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left carpal tunnel syndrome due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the remaining issues due to a lack of medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because the October 1, 2025 request for an extension of time to file an appeal from a previous rating decision denying service connection for back condition, left and right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome was not timely filed.

The Board has remanded the appellant's claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The AOJ will consider any additional evidence, including records from Dr. M.H., when the claims are readjudicated.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of December 7, 2020 for service connection for low back, right knee, left knee, right ankle, left ankle, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and left carpal tunnel syndrome disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU and right wrist disability claims were granted effective July 25, 2017. The right wrist was initially service-connected in May 2022, but the TDIU claim has been ongoing since at least July 25, 2011.