The Board granted service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, right hand arthritis, and left hand arthritis based on the extensive and repetitive use of his hands and wrists during military service as a percussion player.
The deciding factor: The July 2021 VA examiner opined that the Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel and bilateral hand arthritis are at least as likely as not related to service due to the excessive overuse of his hands and wrists while performing his military duties as a percussion player.
- Claimed conditions
- right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, right hand arthritis, left hand arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- June 10, 2025
- Citation
- A25050722
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for migraine headaches, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and left carpal tunnel syndrome was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right hand arthritis to obtain a new VA medical opinion addressing the Veteran's disability under a presumption of soundness.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding that the evidence did not support a link between his current conditions and his military service.
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