The Board denied service connection for right CTS and an increased rating for left CTS, finding that the veteran's right hand condition did not originate in service or for several years thereafter and was not related to his service-connected disorder. The Board also found that the veteran's left upper extremity CTS manifested as mild incomplete paralysis.
The deciding factor: The examiner noted that there were no symptoms of CTS of the right upper extremity during service, and the disorder manifested several years after separation from service. Furthermore, the examiner attributed the ulnar problem to a nonservice-connected neck disorder and stated that he could not relate the right hand condition to the left hand condition.
- Claimed conditions
- CTS of the right upper extremity, CTS of the left upper extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 5, 2007
- Citation
- 0738271
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 0738271.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for a scar behind the left knee, an initial 20 percent evaluation for a low back disability prior to June 10, 2019, service connection for bilateral hearing loss and CTS of the left upper extremity, and service connection for a right shoulder disability are denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea secondary to PTSD is remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for trigeminal neuralgia and CTS of the right upper extremity as secondary to service-connected residuals of TBI due to inadequate medical opinions. The claims are being remanded for further development.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The rating for residuals of postoperative right knee lateral collateral ligament strain remains at 10 percent, while other conditions are either not granted or remanded.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection claims related to CTS of the upper extremities and RLS of the lower extremities, including right and left knee disabilities. The appeal is dismissed as a result.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.