The Board finds that the Veteran's current left hand and left leg disabilities are not related to his service or any service-connected conditions, and thus cannot be granted service connection on a direct basis.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that it is less likely than not that the Veteran's left carpal tunnel syndrome and gluteal muscle tear are caused by his right knee osteoarthritis and synovitis of the left knee.
- Claimed conditions
- left hand disability (carpal tunnel syndrome), left leg disability (gluteus muscle tear)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 9, 2016
- Citation
- 1631638
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 1631638.
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: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for respiratory disability (COPD), left hand disability (carpal tunnel syndrome), and right hand disability (carpal tunnel syndrome) due to the Veteran's credible testimony of symptoms during service, medical records confirming diagnoses, and the absence of any evidence contradicting a direct relationship between his military service and these conditions.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD with traumatic brain injury from July 14, 2015 and remanded claims for service connection of various disabilities.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and remanded the claims for a left hand disability and right hand disability to afford the Veteran a VA medical opinion.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and remanded the issues of left-hand and right-hand disability (carpal tunnel syndrome). The Veteran's claims are currently under review.
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