The Veteran's claim for service connection for lipomas and their residuals was granted. The initial compensable disability rating for the scar on his left hand was denied, but the case is remanded due to potential secondary carpal tunnel syndrome and psychiatric disorder. Additionally, the Veteran's asthma condition is also being remanded for a higher disability rating.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s lipomas were incurred in service and are related to his current condition. However, the scar on his left hand does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as it does not cover an area of at least 144 square inches or cause functional limitations.
- Claimed conditions
- lipomas, left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 6, 2019
- Citation
- 19116459
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,890 · Granted: 32% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19116459.
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.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome and low back pain, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic disease or injury in service or within one year after separation from service.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis is dismissed because the notice of disagreement was not timely filed. The appeals for service connection for right upper carpal tunnel syndrome and left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome are remanded.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues related to bilateral foot condition, low back condition, left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome scars. The appeal is dismissed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
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