The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome met the criteria for a 40 percent disability rating from June 18, 2009, to March 23, 2016. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether the right and left carpal tunnel syndromes were manifested by moderate incomplete paralysis of the lower radicular group during this period.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence shows that the Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was manifested by moderate incomplete paralysis of the lower radicular group from June 18, 2009, to March 23, 2016. The Board resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Bilateral Ulnar Nerve Neuropathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- October 25, 2017
- Citation
- 1747821
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 1747821.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and residuals of a right ankle fracture, did not render her unemployable prior to August 11, 2021. The Board found that the Veteran was unemployable due to a nonservice-connected psychotic disorder.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not rated higher than noncompensable, his right knee disability did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to July 16, 2019 or 30 percent from September 1, 2020, and he failed to establish service connection for chronic bronchitis (COPD), fungal infection, left knee disorder, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, left elbow disorder, or diabetes.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, finding that there was no persuasive evidence showing he needed regular aid and assistance from another person or was housebound as a result of his service-connected conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to uncertainty regarding the Veteran's diagnosis of ALS and insufficient evidence on other conditions. The issues related to sleep apnea, prostate cancer, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome require additional medical opinions.
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