The Veteran's claims for a temporary total rating and an increased evaluation were remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records.
The deciding factor: The period of convalescence following the right wrist carpal tunnel release surgery was not related to a service-connected disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the right wrist, Right wrist ganglion cyst
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 21, 2019
- Citation
- 19179810
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 19179810.
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 Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for her service-connected right wrist ganglion cyst and residual scar was denied. The Board found that the current level of disability did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.
- Denied
The Veteran's right wrist disability was reduced from a 50% rating to a 10% rating effective February 1, 2016. The appeal for increased ratings prior to and after this date is denied.
- Denied
The veteran's claim for a temporary total evaluation under 38 C.F.R. § 4.30 based on a need for post-surgical convalescence was denied because the August 2002 surgery to remove a cyst from his right middle finger was not related to his service-connected right wrist disability.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
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