The veteran's appeal is for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the bilateral wrists and arthritis of the right hand. The Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for an earlier effective date for additional VA compensation benefits based on a dependent spouse.
The deciding factor: No evidence of marriage or dependency was received within one year from notification of eligibility for additional VA compensation benefits, thus no earlier effective date can be granted.
- Claimed conditions
- carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist, arthritis of the right hand
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 4, 2002
- Citation
- 0211259
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0211259.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased rating claims due to a concurrent election under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA). The issues were docketed in error as the AOJ was still reviewing them.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for higher initial ratings for a left middle finger disability with arthritis and arthritis of the right hand due to an inadequate VA examination.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The veteran withdrew all pending appeals, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review these issues.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right and left wrist, a seizure disorder, an inguinal hernia, an acquired psychiatric disability, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
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