The Veteran's CTS of the right and left upper extremities have been rated based on their severity. The RO granted service connection for both conditions, but denied higher ratings and earlier effective dates.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows that the Veteran has moderate to severe incomplete paralysis of the median nerve in his dominant (right) hand, warranting a rating of 50% since January 24, 2020. For his minor (left) hand, he is rated at 40%. The effective dates for service connection and higher ratings are being remanded.
- Claimed conditions
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 31, 2024
- Citation
- 24004844
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 284 · Granted: 35% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 24004844.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claim for SMC based on aid and attendance due to a pre-decisional error in not considering evidence submitted by the Veteran within the applicable evidentiary window. The AOJ is required to obtain an opinion from an appropriate clinician regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in the need for A&A.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's left wrist CTS is rated at 10 percent prior to December 12, 2019. From December 12, 2019, the rating for left wrist CTS has been increased to 20 percent. The right wrist CTS claim remains pending and will be remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the VA examiner has not distinguished between her service-connected right wrist sprain and nonservice-connected CTS, which could impact her ability to work.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for PTSD, TBI, thoracolumbar spine disability, gastrointestinal disorder, CTS, and OSA. The Veteran's claims were not adjudicated on the basis of service connection.
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