The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a grant of service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, and his lumbar spine disability was rated as 20 percent disabling based on painful limitation of motion.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner noted that there is no competent evidence linking the Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome to his active military service. For his lumbar spine disability, the examiner found that the Veteran had painful limitation of motion but no ankylosis or other disabling conditions warranting a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, Disc desiccation (L5-S1) with lumbar degenerative joint disease, Degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, Post-operative residuals of a right knee anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 30, 2016
- Citation
- 1639637
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 1639637.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the VA examiner's opinion regarding service connection for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine is incomplete and requires further clarification. The case is being remanded to obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service, including two claimed inservice collision injuries.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine disability, finding that there is no evidence of a disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active service and no causal relationship between the current disability and any service-connected conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a cervical spine disability to obtain an adequate medical opinion addressing both causation and aggravation.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's knee and cervical spine disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable criteria.
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