The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her low back disability and left wrist CTS were denied by the Board, as there was no evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes that would warrant higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not show findings consistent with a higher rating based on functional loss due to pain or other factors, and the Veteran's service-connected conditions were rated according to their direct effects rather than any specific exposure basis.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral spine degenerative changes (low back disability), left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 13, 2016
- Citation
- 1619503
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 1619503.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a sleep condition, left shoulder bursitis, left wrist CTS, right wrist CTS, upper back condition, lower back condition, and right shoulder bursitis as there was no evidence of current disability or nexus to military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome due to an inadequate VA medical opinion that failed to consider the Veteran's lay statements.
- Denied
The Board denied separate compensable ratings for limitation of motion of the right and left wrists, thumbs, and index fingers associated with the Veteran's service-connected CTS.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) as the evidence did not support a direct link to service or any presumptive basis.
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