The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current left arm and bilateral hand disabilities and his military service, as well as whether these conditions are aggravated by his right shoulder disability. The VA will also need to provide an opinion on whether his left arm and bilateral hand disabilities are related to his in-service duties.
The deciding factor: The remand is necessary due to the lack of a medical opinion addressing the relationship between the Veteran's current left arm and bilateral hand disabilities and his military service, as well as whether these conditions are aggravated by his right shoulder disability. The VA will need to provide such opinions to determine if there is a nexus between the Veteran's current disabilities and his in-service duties.
- Claimed conditions
- left arm disability, bilateral hand disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 20, 2015
- Citation
- 1544660
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 1544660.
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 determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to procedural errors in the adjudication process. The claims will be reconsidered with additional evidence and a thorough review of all relevant medical records.
- Granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, left arm, and right knee disabilities have been granted due to new evidence presented. The cases are being remanded for further examination and rating.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection for right shoulder degenerative arthritis is granted. The claims for higher ratings for bilateral pes cavus, left ankle impingement, and left knee disability are remanded due to the need for additional evidence.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hand disability, including exertional paresthesias and carpal tunnel syndrome, is granted as service-connected. The decision also remands the issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.