The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for numbness and burning in both hands, as well as for numbness and tingling and numbness in both feet, to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's symptoms need to be evaluated further by a VA examiner.
The deciding factor: The Board found the February 2015 VA examination inadequate and remanded for an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's hand and foot symptoms, including whether they are caused or aggravated by diabetes mellitus.
- Claimed conditions
- numbness in both hands, burning, tingling, and numbness in both feet
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 23, 2019
- Citation
- 19173946
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 19173946.
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 remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, weight gain, sleep apnea, and psychiatric disabilities. The issues have been returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.
- Granted
The Veteran's DM and heart disease are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service.,The Board finds that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides while stationed at Don Muang, Thailand. Based on this exposure, his hypertension, stroke, ED, numbness in both hands, and numbness in both feet are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and a need to verify herbicide exposure in Thailand. The Veteran's claims for secondary service connection will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
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.