The Board has granted service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, and a lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is linked to his military occupational duties as an operating room specialist. His hypertension was noted in service with elevated blood pressure readings. His lumbar spine disability is also linked to service. For the initial rating period prior to September 26, 2003, a higher initial evaluation for cervical spine disability than 10 percent has been denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was found to be caused by his active duty military occupational specialty of operating room specialist. His hypertension and lumbar spine disability were both linked to service through medical evidence provided by VA and private physicians.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, lumbar spine disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- December 8, 2009
- Citation
- 0946561
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 0946561.
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 has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to conflicting opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and skin disabilities related to herbicide exposure.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and increased rating for anxiety disorder have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability meeting the criteria for hypertension, and the Veteran's anxiety disorder does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
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