The Board denied service connection for bilateral hand disorders, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses of left and right cubital tunnel syndrome are not related to his military service.,The TDIU claim was also denied as there is no evidence showing that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 21, 2013.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners found no medical evidence linking the bilateral hand disorders (cubital tunnel syndrome) to the Veteran's military service.,The Board determined that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a TDIU prior to August 21, 2013 due to lack of evidence showing his service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Cubital Tunnel Syndrome, Right Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 3, 2021
- Citation
- 21026484
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 21026484.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The reduction in the disability ratings for right and left cubital tunnel syndromes from 30% to 10% was improper, and the original ratings are restored.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for PTSD, IBS, lumbosacral strain, and left cubital tunnel syndrome are denied as the earliest possible effective date allowable by law is May 15, 2018.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on multiple service-connected disabilities remain pending.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for right and left cubital tunnel syndrome, finding that the evidence did not support ratings in excess of 10 percent.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, as it is related to the reduction in ratings for right and left cubital tunnel syndromes. The Veteran's Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits are also under review.
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