The Veteran's left hand and wrist carpal tunnel syndrome is found to be service-connected. The initial rating for his degenerative disk disease of the lumbar spine prior to October 29, 2010 was granted at 10 percent. A higher rating beyond this point is not warranted.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner provided a current diagnosis of left hand and wrist carpal tunnel syndrome that is related to service. The Veteran's degenerative disk disease of the lumbar spine resulted in forward flexion restricted to 65 degrees, which meets the criteria for a 10 percent rating under the General Rating Formula.
- Claimed conditions
- left hand and wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, degenerative disk disease of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- October 23, 2014
- Citation
- 1446930
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 1446930.
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
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for somatic symptom disorder, left knee osteoarthritis, and headaches. The Veteran was also granted increased ratings of 20 percent for degenerative disk disease of the lumbar spine and 40 percent for status post ligament damage and acromioclavicular repair of the right shoulder with acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis and acromioclavicular joint degenerative joint disease.
- Partly granted
The veteran's PTSD rating was increased to 70% from December 7, 2009 to April 29, 2021. The effective date for DEA eligibility was granted as of January 28, 2021. However, the request for an earlier effective date for SMC and a higher level of SMC were denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a TDIU rating based on these conditions.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back conditions and adjustment disorder, have prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation since October 22, 2009. The Board has granted TDIU on both an extraschedular basis (prior to February 14, 2011) and on a schedular basis (from February 14, 2011).
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