The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left arm disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his current disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was insufficient evidence in the record to determine whether the Veteran’s current left arm disabilities are related to his military service, necessitating further evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- left arm disability, degenerative joint disease of the left elbow, left ulnar neuropathy, left hand dystonia
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 26, 2019
- Citation
- 19196173
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 19196173.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted an increased rating of 20 percent for left ulnar neuropathy, finding that the Veteran's condition more nearly approximated moderate incomplete paralysis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the appeal for further examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral upper extremity disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a disability evaluation of 40 percent for left ulnar neuropathy prior to September 11, 2025, and denied an evaluation in excess of 40 percent.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple psychiatric and physical disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left foot disability, left lower extremity sciatica, low back disability, and left arm disability.
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