The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings in excess of 30 percent for cold injury residuals to the left and right hands, including peripheral neuropathy, is being remanded due to a missed VA examination. The case will be readjudicated after scheduling a new VA examination.
The deciding factor: The Veteran failed to appear at the scheduled VA examination, which was necessary to determine the current severity of his service-connected cold injury residuals and associated peripheral neuropathy.
- Claimed conditions
- left hand cold injury residuals, right hand cold injury residuals
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 9, 2015
- Citation
- 1551698
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 1551698.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for cold injury residuals of the bilateral feet and hands due to a lack of evidence showing frostbite injuries during service, and found that the Veteran's current symptoms are not related to his in-service frostbite.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to issues related to cold injury residuals, including right and left hand and foot cold injuries, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder. The case must be returned to the RO for further development.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for cold injury residuals of the hands and feet, as well as Raynaud's disease, are granted. The Veteran's claim for a neck condition (claimed as car wreck) is denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for cold injury residuals of his right and left hands due to a duty to assist error in obtaining missing service records. The Veteran is entitled to an examination to determine if he currently has residuals from cold injuries, and any etiology.
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