The Board found that the evidence did not support a claim for service connection for a bilateral hand disorder, as there was no evidence of any signs of carpal tunnel syndrome during the veteran's boxing or military career.
The deciding factor: The April 2008 VA examination report indicated that the current bilateral hand disorder was less likely than not caused by or related to the veteran's service due to a lack of evidence of such symptoms in his medical records and during his military career.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hand disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 16, 2009
- Citation
- 0901843
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,467 · Granted: 18% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0901843.
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 appeals for service connection for various conditions were dismissed due to the Veteran's untimely and improper submission of a VA Form 10182.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board denied an increased rating for sarcoidosis but granted service connection for a left eye disorder, including glaucoma and a bilateral hand disorder as secondary to sarcoidosis.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a bilateral hand disorder and right ankle disorder, both diagnosed as crystalline arthropathy. The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II, but granted a 30 percent rating for diabetic nephropathy. Other claims were either denied or granted ratings within the range requested.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disability, concussion, bilateral hand disorder, and bilateral foot pain.
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.