The Board has found that the remand directives have been substantially complied with. The Veteran's right wrist disability claim is being remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to address the nature and severity of his disability, particularly regarding 'instability'. TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is also being remanded.
The deciding factor: The Board found that additional evidence was needed to fully assess the Veteran's right wrist disability, specifically addressing whether 'instability' should be considered a distinct feature or symptom separate from limitation of motion.
- Claimed conditions
- right wrist tendinitis, carpal insufficiency non dissociative, complete tear of the scapholunate ligament, ganglion cyst residuals
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20007057
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 remands the issues for further development to ensure all available service treatment records are associated with the claims file.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claim for a disability rating higher than 10 percent for both left and right wrist tendinitis.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right hip femoral acetabular impingement syndrome, lumbosacral strain, left wrist tendinitis, and right wrist tendinitis. However, a 30 percent rating was granted for bilateral plantar fasciitis.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected left knee, left ankle, and right wrist disabilities have been granted. His lumbar spine disability has been increased to a 40 percent rating from August 25, 2016.
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