The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the left hand is rated at 10 percent and effective from May 19, 2008.,The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand is rated at 10 percent and effective from February 6, 2014. The claim for an earlier effective date is denied as there is no evidence of symptoms prior to this date.
The deciding factor: The VA examination reports show mild subjective symptoms of paresthesias and/or dysesthesias and mild numbness with decreased sensation on examination, but normal strength and motor functioning and reflexes. No functional impairment was noted for the right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.
- Claimed conditions
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Peripheral Neuropathy of the Lower Extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- December 20, 2017
- Citation
- 1759187
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 1759187.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome, left upper extremity, status post carpal tunnel release is granted an initial rating of 60 percent. Service connection for right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome is also granted.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted effective dates for TDIU, SMC, and DEA based on his service-connected conditions. The Board also determined that the Veteran's PTSD alone warrants a TDIU prior to May 31, 2024.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Centralized Eligibility and Appeals Team (CEAT) decision denying the Veteran's eligibility for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) is inadequate due to insufficient reasoning. The appeal is being remanded to obtain a more detailed medical opinion addressing the Veteran's need for personal care services, supervision, and protection.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for higher ratings and separate ratings for neuralgia and neuritis for her service-connected carpal tunnel syndrome was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of mild, moderate, or severe incomplete paralysis of the median nerve, which would warrant higher disability ratings.
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