The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a right wrist disorder including carpal tunnel syndrome, an effective date prior to October 24, 2007 for major depressive disorder, and an effective date prior to December 27, 2002 for a 30 percent evaluation for residuals of cholecystectomy with irritable bowel syndrome. The Board found that the Veteran's right wrist disorder was not incurred in service and her claims for depression and irritable bowel syndrome were denied as she had already been granted service connection for these conditions.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran’s right wrist disorder, including carpal tunnel syndrome, was related to her military service. The Board also found no clear and unmistakable error in the October 2006 rating decision denying service connection for depression, as the claim had already been denied. The effective dates were denied because they would be prior to when the Veteran's claims were first filed.
- Claimed conditions
- right wrist ganglion cyst, carpal tunnel syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- November 20, 2018
- Citation
- 18151699
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 18151699.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and a pre-decisional duty to assist error. Additional development is needed for service connection of carpal tunnel syndrome, increased ratings for lower extremity radiculopathies, and obtaining a VA TERA opinion.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of carpal tunnel syndrome in the left upper extremity, and the Board has dismissed this case.
- Granted
The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar nerve post traumatic mononeuropathy of the right upper extremity is rated at 40 percent effective July 23, 2019.
- Granted
The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome was diagnosed during service and has continued to the present. The Board granted service connection for this condition, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise that it began in service.
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