Wrist & hand Board decisions

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.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA examination reports and the Veteran's request for a travel board hearing.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and increased evaluations have been granted.

The Veteran's claim for a separate rating for neurological impairment of the left shoulder and an initial rating higher than 20 percent for residuals of a left shoulder injury on an extraschedular basis has been denied. The evidence does not support granting these claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease, carpal tunnel syndrome, and skin cancer. The evidence does not show current diagnoses of these conditions or any in-service events that would support a finding of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development of service personnel and treatment records from the appellant's reserve service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals for all issues except PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a video conference hearing with a Veterans Law Judge.