The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 was denied because the evidence did not establish that VA medical or educational services were the proximate cause of his additional disability.
The deciding factor: The Board found no evidence to support a finding of fault on the part of VA in providing care, treatment, or examination related to the Veteran's carpal tunnel release surgery.
- Claimed conditions
- palmar cutaneous neuroma, median neuritis with reflex sympathetic dystrophy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 6, 2019
- Citation
- 19143820
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. §1151 for additional disability of his right hand due to a carpal tunnel release surgery, finding that the Veteran was appropriately informed about the risks and that the additional disability was a known complication of the procedure.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and an examination to determine if his right hand/wrist disability was caused by the carpal tunnel release surgery or a delay in follow-up treatment.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
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