The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings of his service-connected cervical spine disability, right cubital tunnel syndrome, and left cubital tunnel syndrome are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,VA is seeking to obtain private treatment records from Dr. R.F., which the Veteran has indicated he does not wish to pursue further.
The deciding factor: The effective dates cannot be assigned earlier than March 21, 2012 as there is no evidence of an increase in disability prior to that date.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical spine desiccation with degenerative disc disease and arthritis (cervical spine disability), Right cubital tunnel syndrome, Left cubital tunnel syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 26, 2020
- Citation
- 20043328
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 20043328.
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 separate 10 percent disability ratings for the Veteran's service-connected left and right carpal tunnel syndrome, and left and right cubital tunnel syndrome.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right elbow disability, lateral epicondylitis, degenerative arthritis of the right elbow, and right cubital tunnel syndrome due to lack of evidence showing a causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected cervical spine disability and bilateral cubital tunnel syndrome were denied. The right cubital tunnel syndrome was combined with the cervical radiculopathy, resulting in a 40 percent rating since October 14, 2020.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected disabilities, including hypertension, radiculopathy of the upper and lower extremities, arthritis, and a nerve condition. The Board has withdrawn some claims and remanded others for further review.
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