The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and/or alcoholism. The carpal tunnel syndrome of the bilateral upper extremities and right cubital tunnel syndrome are denied as there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was insufficient evidence to establish a connection between the claimed disabilities and service, particularly given the lack of continuity of symptoms since service.
- Claimed conditions
- carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity, right cubital tunnel syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 26, 2022
- Citation
- 22060063
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 22060063.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, sleep apnea, carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity, and PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder as secondary to his service-connected back disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions in the March 2024 rating decision. The Veteran's CVA is related to his service-connected hypertension, but not solely caused by it. Right and left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome are related to in-service lifting heavy equipment as part of his MOS. The gastrointestinal disorder other than sigmoid diverticulitis is related to in-service TERA.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from January 1, 2017 to October 27, 2017 due to service-connected disabilities. The temporary total evaluation for convalescence was denied.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for hearing loss disability, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right and left upper extremities, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are all denied.,The Board found that there is no current evidence of a hearing loss disability meeting VA criteria. The Veteran had normal hearing at entry to service but later developed impacted cerumen which obscured her ability to be tested for hearing loss.,For carpal tunnel syndrome, the Board determined that there was no onset during service and no compensable manifestation within one year after separation from service. There is also no evidence linking current symptoms to in-service events or diseases.,Regarding an acquired psychiatric disorder, the Board concluded that there were no signs or findings of a psychiatric condition during service. The Veteran's military records indicate she was rated highly and had good relationships with her peers.
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