The Board has remanded the case due to errors in the VA examinations conducted in June 2017, and new examinations are required to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Joint Motion found that the Board erred in relying on VA examinations conducted in June 2017, which did not include detailed findings as per the Court’s guidance in Sharp v. Shulkin.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of right wrist fracture, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with radicular symptoms, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, right upper extremity radiculopathy, degenerative joint disease and bursitis of bilateral hips
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 18, 2020
- Citation
- 20027057
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 20027057.
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 granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis. The claims for back pain and right upper extremity radiculopathy are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's TDIU and DEA claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence for a schedular rating, and the issues are inextricably intertwined.
- Dismissed
The appeal seeking to establish entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) is dismissed because the AOJ decision was merely implementing a Board's earlier effective date decision for service connection.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches, as secondary to tinnitus, is granted. The claims for service connection for hearing loss disability and a disability manifested by shortness of breath other than chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are denied. The claims for service connection for an intestinal disability (diverticulitis), fatigue, hypertension, neck disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, upper and lower back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right hip disability, left hip disability, right foot pain, left foot pain, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and an acquired psychiatric disorder are all denied.
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