Wrist & hand decisions — 2026

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and urinary incontinence has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these claims.,Service connection for bilateral wrist carpal tunnel syndrome was granted, with the Board finding that the Veteran had significant bilateral wrist and hand pain during service which continued since.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for migraines, a bilateral leg disorder, nerve damage of the right hand, and scarring of the right wrist and head. The Board found that there was no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and need for additional examinations. The issues include prostate cancer, bladder bleeding with blood clots, heart disability, diabetes mellitus, neurological impairment of upper extremities, cervical spine disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to insufficient evidence or further evaluation is needed.

The Veteran's eligibility for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) is being remanded due to a lack of explanation in the April 2021 decision regarding whether participation in the program was in his best interest. The Board finds that the Veteran requires personal care services due to disabilities including posttraumatic stress disorder, tension headaches, and others.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that there was no current diagnosis of chronic sinusitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, or right quadricep strain. For the issues related to bilateral plantar fasciitis, cervical spine disability, neck surgery scar, shoulder disabilities, ankle disabilities, knee disabilities, allergic rhinitis, and migraine headaches, the evidence did not support a finding that they were incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is in need of personal care services for a minimum of six continuous months due to his spine and wrist disabilities. The appeal is remanded to determine if participation in the PCAFC program is in the best interest of the Veteran.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) because the increase in disability occurred more than one year before the claim was filed, and the earliest possible effective date is August 19, 2022.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring additional VA examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected. The remaining issues are remanded for further development and examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability has been granted. The right wrist and carpal tunnel syndrome claims have both been denied, with the right wrist rating remaining at 10 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a frostbite condition, right wrist condition, and pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB). The claim for an initial compensable rating for tinnitus is also denied.,Service connection was not granted for the right ankle condition due to the evidence being in equipoise.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for back pain, tinnitus, right upper extremity wrist pain, and left upper extremity wrist pain as there was no new and relevant evidence submitted to support these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome in her right wrist was granted with an effective date of August 10, 2022. The decision is based on new evidence submitted after the initial denial.

The Board has denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right and left wrist ganglion cysts, finding that the evidence does not show ankylosis or its functional equivalent.

The Board has denied service connection for left wrist, right wrist, left hip, and right hip disabilities as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence does not support the presence of these conditions during or recent to the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for adjustment disorder with depressed mood was denied, as the evidence did not show symptoms that would warrant a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for right wrist tenosynovitis with ganglion cyst was denied. The current 10% rating is considered appropriate given the nature of his condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and new evidence being considered.

The Veteran's service-connected ulcerative colitis is found to have caused his arthralgia in the left and right feet, ankles, hands, and wrists. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis has been denied as there is no persuasive evidence of its occurrence during or shortly after his military service.,The Veteran's appeal seeking an initial compensable rating for headaches was dismissed due to the lack of timely filing and concurrent election issues. The issue will be remanded for further consideration.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diverticulosis/IBS (formerly GERD) has been dismissed as it is no longer pending at the Board level after a grant by the Board in February 2025, effective from January 23, 2021.,The Veteran's appeal seeking an initial compensable rating for CTS was dismissed due to concurrent election issues. The issue will be remanded for further consideration.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD has been granted by the Board in February 2025, effective from January 23, 2021. The appeal is dismissed as this represents a full grant of the benefit sought on appeal.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus/plantar fasciitis and CTS were remanded due to concurrent election issues. These issues will be addressed in a future rating decision.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for TBI was not on appeal as it was predecisional error not to address the current rating issue. The issue is remanded for further consideration.,The Veteran's appeal seeking an earlier effective date for the award of a 50 percent rating for migraine headaches will be considered in a future decision.