The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left wrist disability has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, his claims for traumatic arthritis, nonunion of the left carpal navicular, and scapholunate advanced collapse are remanded as additional medical examination is needed to determine their etiology.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection. However, due to the complexity of his diagnoses and the need to clarify whether they are related to service or preexisting conditions, a remand is required to obtain additional medical examination and opinion.
- Claimed conditions
- left wrist fracture, traumatic arthritis, nonunion of the left carpal navicular, scapholunate advanced collapse
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 19, 2019
- Citation
- 19172695
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 19172695.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher rating for service-connected right ankle with traumatic arthritis (claimed as right ankle instability). The Board dismissed the appeal.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was denied, and the Board found that no effective date prior to May 30, 2019 is warranted.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left wrist disability, finding that it was presumed aggravated by service and there is no clear and unmistakable evidence of its increase in severity due to natural progression.
- Granted
The Veteran's initial disability rating for his left wrist fracture is granted at a 10 percent level, effective from the date of claim.
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