The Board has decided to remand the case due to unclear medical opinions and a need for further development regarding the Veteran's left hand and wrist conditions.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner provided conflicting opinions, leading to the need for another opinion on the etiology of the diagnosed conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative arthritis of the left hand, carpal tunnel syndrome, status-post left wrist fusion, calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 27, 2020
- Citation
- 20075844
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 20075844.
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 Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and a pre-decisional duty to assist error. Additional development is needed for service connection of carpal tunnel syndrome, increased ratings for lower extremity radiculopathies, and obtaining a VA TERA opinion.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of carpal tunnel syndrome in the left upper extremity, and the Board has dismissed this case.
- Granted
The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar nerve post traumatic mononeuropathy of the right upper extremity is rated at 40 percent effective July 23, 2019.
- Granted
The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome was diagnosed during service and has continued to the present. The Board granted service connection for this condition, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise that it began in service.
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