The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for his bilateral hand disability, left shoulder impingement syndrome with rotator cuff tear with mild bursitis, left knee status post arthroscopic repair lateral meniscus tear, and degenerative disc/joint disease of the lumbar spine due to outstanding treatment records and inadequate examination reports.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there may be relevant outstanding treatment records for the Veteran's bilateral hand disability and that the examinations provided did not adequately address the functional loss due to pain in his left shoulder and knee disabilities. The Board also noted that the examinations did not provide information on whether the Veteran had a current diagnosis of secondary gout affecting his bilateral hands.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hand disability, left shoulder impingement syndrome with rotator cuff tear with mild bursitis, left knee status post arthroscopic repair lateral meniscus tear, degenerative disc/joint disease of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 19, 2019
- Citation
- 19187042
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,549 · Granted: 29% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19187042.
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 determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to procedural errors in the adjudication process. The claims will be reconsidered with additional evidence and a thorough review of all relevant medical records.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hand disability, including exertional paresthesias and carpal tunnel syndrome, is granted as service-connected. The decision also remands the issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a bilateral hand disability, an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for TBI with migraine, and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to duty-to-assist errors.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the listed conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of those claims at a hearing before the Board.
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.