The Board has granted service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, right knee synovitis, and chronic pain in the left and low back knees due to an undiagnosed illness arising from the veteran's service in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the claimed disabilities were related to exposure to a 'cloud of material' during service and are presumed to be due to an undiagnosed illness.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, Right knee synovitis, Left knee pain (chronic), Low back pain (chronic)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 25, 2008
- Citation
- 0820866
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0820866.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a left and right knee disability, fatty liver, eustachian tube dysfunction, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome due to inadequate VA examinations and medical opinions.
- Partly granted
The Board granted secondary service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and denied increased ratings for a cervical spine disability, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and posttraumatic stress disorder with depression/mood disorder.
- Dismissed
The veteran withdrew his appeal for all claims, including those related to various disabilities and service connection.
- Denied
The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not cause the level of impairment required for a higher rating.
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.