The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate examination findings regarding the Veteran's neck disability and left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome.
The deciding factor: The examiner did not address whether the Veteran’s neck disability was caused or aggravated by her service-connected low back disability, right wrist CTS, appendectomy scar, or any other service-connected disability as directed in the February 2018 remand.
- Claimed conditions
- Thoracic outlet syndrome, Left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 25, 2020
- Citation
- 20056214
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 20056214.
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 Veteran is granted a higher level of SMC at the intermediary level N1/2 from October 20, 2020 to June 7, 2022. This decision resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Granted
The Veteran's thoracic outlet syndrome is rated at 40 percent effective June 9, 2023. The condition has more nearly approximated moderately severe incomplete paralysis.
- Denied
The Veteran's right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome and left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome are currently rated at 30 percent and 20 percent, respectively. The Board denied the claims for higher ratings as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DC 8515.,The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the right ankle and left ankle are both currently rated at 10 percent. The Board denied the claims for higher ratings as there is no evidence that meets the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5003-5271.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea secondary to service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities. The claims of service connection for hypertension, fatigue, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, left upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and a neck condition are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.
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