The Board granted service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome in both the right and left hands, finding a link to the Veteran's active service, including exposure to burn pits.
The deciding factor: The evidence supports a medical nexus between the Veteran's current bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and his past exposure to burn pits and TCE while stationed at Fort Lewis.
- Claimed conditions
- carpal tunnel syndrome, right hand (also claimed as arthritis of the hands), carpal tunnel syndrome, left hand (also claimed as arthritis of the hands)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 12, 2022
- Citation
- 22001554
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a left upper extremity condition, claimed as a left shoulder condition, to schedule a VA examination and obtain an opinion on whether the condition is related to service.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a right wrist condition, to include carpal tunnel syndrome, based on the Veteran's credible reports of pain and weakness since service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including fatigue, bilateral eye disability, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, GERD, penile condition, left foot disability, and others. Some claims were remanded for further development.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for pseudofolliculitis barbae and granted a 20 percent rating for left and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, while denying service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, insomnia, neck strain, shoulder strain, and sleep apnea.
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