The Veteran's right carpal tunnel and de Quervain's syndromes were denied service connection as they did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and are not etiologically related to her active service. The TDIU claim was also denied due to the lack of a combined rating at 60% or more for multiple service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's right hand symptoms began many years after service and there is no evidence of recurrent/persistent right hand numbness symptoms since service or within one year of service discharge. The preponderance of the evidence established that her right hand condition did not manifest inservice or in the one-year period following her separation from service, and is not etiologically related to her inservice treatment for left-hand 'overuse'.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Right carpal tunnel syndrome","location":"right upper extremity"}, {"condition_name":"De Quervain's syndromes of the right upper extremity","location":"right upper extremity"}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 1, 2020
- Citation
- A20017750
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
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