The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for left wrist radiocarpal joint disease, right wrist radiocarpal joint disease, and right wrist tendonitis. The claims are remanded to obtain a new VA examination to assess the etiology of these conditions and whether they are related to service or any other condition. The Veteran's claim of service connection for patellofemoral pain syndrome of both knees is also remanded due to the possibility of secondary service connection.
The deciding factor: The Board agreed with the parties in the JMPR that new evidence had been submitted sufficient to reopen the claims and a new examination was needed to address the etiology of the Veteran's wrist conditions, as well as any potential secondary service connection for his knee disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- left wrist radiocarpal joint disease, right wrist radiocarpal joint disease, right wrist tendonitis, left knee disability, claimed as patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee disability, claimed as patellofemoral pain syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 21, 2020
- Citation
- 20068148
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,948 · Granted: 29% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 20068148.
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 has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right lateral collateral ligament sprain, lumbar strain, and right wrist tendonitis. The conditions had their onset in service and are related to his documented injuries during active duty.
- Denied
The Veteran's right wrist tendonitis and right ankle anterior lateral instability have been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, which is the highest assignable rating under applicable diagnostic codes.,A higher rating for either condition is not warranted as there is no evidence of ankylosis or other conditions that would justify a higher rating.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for chronic rhinitis, allergic or non-allergic and urinary incontinence (loss of bladder control) as there was insufficient evidence to establish a causal link between the claimed conditions and the Veteran's military service. The remaining claims were remanded for further development.
- Granted
The Board granted a 10 percent initial disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected right wrist tendonitis based on pain and crepitus, effective from March 25, 2023.
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