The Veteran's current left arm/hand disability is being remanded for further evaluation due to concerns about the adequacy of his shoulder preparation for joint replacement surgery.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that it is less likely than not that the Veteran’s left radial nerve palsy resulted from carelessness, negligence, lack of skill or similar incidence of fault on the part of the attending VA personnel. However, the Board finds an opinion needed to address whether his shoulder was not properly prepared for joint replacement surgery.
- Claimed conditions
- left radial nerve palsy, left arm/hand disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 5, 2019
- Citation
- 19183857
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,569 · Granted: 26% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19183857.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
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 claim for service connection for a left upper extremity neurological disability, to include left radial nerve palsy due to inadequate examination and missing diagnostic testing.
- Granted
The Veteran's post-operative left anterior cubital fossa scar is granted service connection. The claim for a left upper extremity neurological disability, including left radial nerve palsy, is remanded due to the need for further evaluation and treatment records.
- Denied
The Veteran's left radial nerve palsy is denied as it was not caused by VA care or treatment, and the Board finds no fault on the part of VA.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA treatment records. The left arm/hand disability claim requires a neurological examination to determine if it is related to his service-connected left shoulder disability.
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.