The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and consideration of Gulf War criteria. The specific issues are related to bilateral shoulder, wrist and hand, low back, knee, ankle and foot disorders, as well as tinnitus.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations were deemed insufficient in addressing the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, particularly due to gaps in treatment records and reliance on time since service without adequate explanation for current diagnoses.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Bilateral Shoulder Disorder","claimed_condition":"pinched nerve on the right"}, {"condition_name":"Bilateral Wrist and Hand Disorder","claimed_condition":null}, {"condition_name":"Low Back Disorder","claimed_condition":null}, {"condition_name":"Bilateral Knee Disorder","claimed_condition":null}, {"condition_name":"Bilateral Ankle and Foot Disorder","claimed_condition":null}, {"condition_name":"Tinnitus","claimed_condition":null}
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 10, 2020
- Citation
- 20072586
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
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.