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young black male veteran with a va rating for carpal tunnel holds his wrist in pain

What’s the VA Rating for Carpal Tunnel?

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The loss of feeling and function in the hand due to carpal tunnel can be debilitating. Understanding how the VA assigns a rating for carpal tunnel syndrome can help veterans prepare their appeals for disability benefits. 

Summary

  • Carpal tunnel syndrome due to repetitive strain is a common service-connected disability among veterans, impacting activities like driving, cooking, and typing.
  • The VA assesses carpal tunnel disability based on the severity of the veteran’s loss of muscle control and range of motion, nerve pain, and whether their dominant or non-dominant hand is affected.
  • Veterans must demonstrate symptoms with medical records, provide an official diagnosis, and establish a clear link between their carpal tunnel and military service to secure VA benefits.
  • Veterans can receive a bilateral rating for both hands, but the dominant hand qualifies for a higher carpal tunnel rating. Surgery may lower a VA rating for carpal tunnel, but it does not automatically eliminate it.
  • VetLaw’s VA disability benefits attorneys provide legal support to veterans for obtaining or increasing carpal tunnel disability benefits through VA appeals.

The repeated or prolonged flexing of the wrist can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, depriving a veteran from the full use of their hand and fingers. Consequently, it can interfere with their ability to drive, cook, manage their appearance and personal hygiene, type, or even open a door.

This service-connected disability is common among veterans who used repetitive motions or vibrating tools in their active duty roles. Our veteran disability claim attorneys are here to help you prove you deserve a VA disability rating for your service-connected carpal tunnel syndrome.

We encourage you to call (855) 964-1925 or fill out a contact form to schedule a free consultation with us. VetLaw will advocate for you from start to finish.

How the VA Determines a Veteran’s Carpal Tunnel Rating

Carpal tunnel syndrome affects a veteran’s median nerve in their hand. Excessive pressure on the median nerve can lead to inflammation and interfere with the nerve’s function. In veterans with Carpal Tunnel, this can result in pain, weakness, loss of dexterity, and other symptoms.

Using your medical records and C&P exam results, the VA will assess the extent to which you are experiencing the symptoms of carpal tunnel due to military service. Your VA rating for carpal tunnel depends on the following:

Level of Remaining Muscle Control and Range of Motion

When rating a veteran’s Carpal Tunnel, the VA will evaluate the extent of the paralysis of the median nerve. Complete paralysis, where the veteran can no longer make a closed fist, earns the highest rating percentage.

If the paralysis is incomplete, then the VA looks at how severe the veteran’s loss of motor control and range of motion is in their thumb, index finger, and middle finger. Incomplete paralysis can be categorized as severe, moderate, or mild.

When the median nerve is compressed, the muscles in the hand can atrophy, or deteriorate. Without sufficient muscle mass to carry out motor commands, a veteran with carpal tunnel will find it hard to flex their fingers or display fine motor control. Additionally, they may lose the ability to exert force or become too weak to hold objects.

Intensity of Nerve Pain and Ability to Experience Sensation

Another metric the VA uses to determine a veteran’s carpal tunnel syndrome rating is the severity of the veteran’s neuralgia. In the context of Carpal Tunnel, neuralgia describes a sharp pain along the median nerve.

Neuralgia acts as a signal to the body that a nerve has been harmed. Often, a VA disability rating for a nerve condition will include neuralgia. Depending on how advanced a veteran’s carpal tunnel is, chronic nerve pain may become disruptive in their everyday life, including while they sleep.

Many veterans with carpal tunnel syndrome also report a feeling of numbness in their affected hand or fingers. This is a result of the compromised median nerve being unable to conduct messages between the hand and the brain.

The Dominance of the Hand With Carpal Tunnel

It is important to note that the VA rates carpal tunnel differently based on which hand is affected. If you have carpal tunnel in your dominant hand, then the VA will rate your symptoms higher than it would if you had the same symptoms in your non-dominant hand.

The VA Rating Schedule for carpal tunnel refers to a veteran’s dominant hand as the “major” hand and their non-dominant hand as the “minor” hand.

For carpal tunnel syndrome in the major hand, a veteran can receive a VA rating of 10%, 30%, 50%, or 70%. For the same level of impairment in the minor hand, the corresponding carpal tunnel ratings are 10%, 20%, 40%, and 60%.

How to Get a VA Rating for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Veterans with carpal tunnel often develop nerve damage from their time serving in the military. However, claiming VA benefits for carpal tunnel is not as simple as requesting disability compensation once you conclude your service. The VA has strict eligibility requirements for veterans seeking a VA rating for carpal tunnel syndrome.

As a veteran seeking disability compensation, first you must:

1. Demonstrate That You Suffer From Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

If you are experiencing numbness, a sharp tingling sensation, and weakness in the thumb, pointer finger, and middle finger of one hand, make sure that you convey this information to your healthcare provider promptly.

That way they can keep track of the emergence, severity, frequency, and progression of your carpal tunnel symptoms.

2. Provide Objective Medical Evidence of Your Disability Diagnosis

The VA will ask you for a record of an official medical diagnosis before it agrees to provide benefits for carpal tunnel, and reporting your symptoms to your doctor allows them to formally diagnose you.

These medical records will also be crucial to getting an accurate VA rating for Carpal Tunnel.

3. Identify the In-Service Connection to Your Carpal Tunnel VA Rating

Maybe you developed carpal tunnel syndrome from repeatedly overextending your wrist while typing, absorbing vibrations while discharging weapons and using tools, straining your hand while repairing engines, or another source such as a broken bone from a wrist injury.

Regardless, it is important to clearly outline the medical nexus between your military service and your nerve condition in a VA disability claim.

4. Connect Your Carpal Tunnel to Your Military Service

Military personnel who work in an office as well as those who have more physically demanding jobs can develop carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel is also a common VA non-combat claim.

However, in any case the VA will want to see evidence that your in-service experiences caused or aggravated your carpal tunnel before awarding you veterans disability benefits.

Learn How VetLaw Can Help You Secure or Increase Your VA Benefits for Carpal Tunnel

Losing your ability to grip objects or move your fingers without pain can be frustrating, especially when it prevents you from living up to your potential at work or fully embracing your hobbies.

Filing a VA carpal tunnel claim can help you reassert control over your life with the disability compensation you deserve. Enhance your chances of securing the maximum VA disability compensation with the veterans disability lawyers of VetLaw by your side.

Get in touch with us at (855) 964-1925 or fill out a contact form to schedule a free consultation. Our team of experienced veteran disability appeals attorneys is here to guide you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a VA rating for carpal tunnel for both of my hands?

Yes, the VA rates carpal tunnel by looking at the effective remaining function of each hand individually. Therefore, veterans can receive VA disability ratings for both hands. Keep in mind that one hand will be classified as major (your dominant hand) and the other (your non-dominant hand) will be designated as minor.

This means only your dominant hand will be eligible for the higher tier of ratings for Carpal Tunnel. After the VA determines the level of impairment for both hands, it will use a formula to combine the ratings into a bilateral rating for carpal tunnel syndrome.

What service-connected conditions are associated with carpal tunnel syndrome?

Veterans who are already dealing with certain service-related health conditions may be more likely to develop carpal tunnel. These medical conditions include:

You may be able to secure a carpal tunnel VA rating if you can prove a secondary service connection to rheumatoid arthritis or another service-connected disability.

It can be difficult to show a medical nexus to a secondary service connection, but VetLaw’s VA disability appeals lawyers have extensive experience securing benefits for veterans with secondary conditions.

If I have surgery to treat my carpal tunnel, but I still have symptoms of carpal tunnel, can I still get a VA disability rating?

Yes, even if you have had surgery to alleviate your carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms, the VA may still offer you some level of VA disability benefits.

However, it is likely to be a lower VA disability rating than you held pre-surgery, and therefore less compensation. Typically, the VA will offer veterans with carpal tunnel a 10% VA disability rating after they have undergone surgery.