The Board has granted service connection for left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the Veteran's use of a cane to assist with his service-connected foot and knee disabilities aggravated his carpal tunnel syndrome.
The deciding factor: The VA expert opined that the Veteran’s use of a cane at least as likely as not aggravated his left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome based on orthopedic literature showing that cane use can result in radial deviation, extension, pressure over the carpal tunnel and/or repeated contraction of hand and wrist muscles.
- Claimed conditions
- left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 11, 2019
- Citation
- 19128261
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.
- Partly granted
The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied, except for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability which were granted. The veteran was also granted service connection for hypertension.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remanded the Veteran's claims for an additional VA examination to address the severity of her carpal tunnel syndrome prior to July 16, 2018.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.
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