The Veteran's bilateral cubital tunnel syndrome resulted in severe incomplete paralysis, warranting a 30 percent rating for the left upper extremity and a 40 percent rating for the right upper extremity.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found moderate to mild symptoms of pain and paresthesias, but considered the Veteran's lay reports more credible as indicative of severe incomplete paralysis.
- Claimed conditions
- Left upper extremity cubital tunnel syndrome, Right upper extremity cubital tunnel syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- August 16, 2018
- Citation
- 18126976
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 18126976.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left upper extremity cubital tunnel syndrome was granted, with a 20% rating effective from January 1, 2022. The claim for the left elbow scar received a 10% rating based on pain.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, finding that there is no evidence of its onset during or within one year after service. The appeal was also remanded for additional examinations and opinions regarding his right elbow, right upper extremity cubital tunnel syndrome, bilateral lower extremity neuropathies, and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy.
- Granted
The Veteran's right upper extremity carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndrome with polyneuropathy was granted an increased rating of 40 percent from October 22, 2018 onwards. Prior to this date, the disability was rated as mild.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or maintain any substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a TDIU.
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