Wrist & hand decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as there is no competent evidence supporting the presence of any claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for another VA examination to assess her employability due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been evaluated based on their current manifestations. The appeals for increased evaluations are denied as the evidence does not support a higher evaluation under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a lack of discussion of supportive private medical opinions in the VA examination report.

The Veteran's right wrist disorder, which includes a history of scaphoid fracture and post-operative changes, is currently rated at 50 percent. The RO has granted an increased rating from 30 to 50 percent effective March 24, 2005. However, the evidence does not support an evaluation in excess of 50 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address his claim of service connection for residuals of a left wrist fracture, including as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The issue of entitlement to specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional development of his claims file. The claim involves an initial evaluation for service-connected right wrist scaphoid fracture and 5th metacarpal fractures, which were initially rated at 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's right wrist disorder is of service onset and granted service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and an initial rating for his right wrist fracture were denied. The claim to reopen the left knee disability was also denied as no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a left wrist disability and the Board finds that service connection for a left wrist disability is not warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left wrist conditions are evaluated at 30 percent and 20 percent, respectively. The combined rating is 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to the presence of other service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for major depressive disorder and carpal tunnel syndrome, both claimed as secondary to service-connected polycystic ovarian syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective December 4, 2008. Service connection for PTSD was not granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left wrist disability is at least as likely as not related to an injury sustained during military service, including a fracture in basic training.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder and wrist do not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee and right wrist disorders are related to his service, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's joint pains are attributed to known clinical diagnoses and not due to an undiagnosed illness. Service connection for the claimed disability is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, qualifying him for special monthly compensation. However, he is not found to be unemployable due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the wrists and hands, pes cavus with plantar fasciitis, and cervical spondylosis were denied. The Veteran was granted a compensable initial evaluation (10%) for incomplete paralysis of the right upper extremity from July 22, 2006, and an increased initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for orthopedic manifestations of cervical spondylosis from July 22, 2006. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with a compensable initial evaluation (30%) effective March 10, 2008.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was rated at 50 percent since October 1, 2005.,For the cervical spine disability, a rating in excess of 30 percent is not warranted. The Veteran has forward flexion limited to 20 degrees and lateral flexion limited to 15 degrees on each side.,The lumbar spondylosis with degenerative joint disease was rated at 10 percent prior to August 3, 2006; a rating in excess of 20 percent is not warranted from that date onwards. The Veteran's range of motion has been limited due to pain on motion.,Right shoulder tendonitis was rated at 10 percent prior to November 1, 2007 and thereafter. The Veteran had right arm range of motion restricted to shoulder level due to pain on motion.,Left wrist tendonitis (residual of a left wrist injury) is service connected.,No residuals of the left foot injury are service connected.,Erectile dysfunction was service connected, but no compensable rating is warranted.,Varicocelectomy is not service connected.,Right index finger fracture and left index finger fracture were not service connected.