The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, a bilateral foot condition, and a lower back condition due to potential incomplete medical opinions.,Specifically, the Board found that the July 2020 VA examiner’s opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was inadequate as it did not consider the Veteran's lay statements. The September 2020 VA examiner's opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his bilateral foot condition was also deemed inadequate due to an inaccurate factual premise.
The deciding factor: Incomplete medical opinions rendered by the July 2020 and September 2020 VA examiners regarding the Veteran's claims for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and bilateral foot condition, respectively.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Bilateral Foot Condition, Lower Back Condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 8, 2020
- Citation
- 20077574
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 20077574.
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.
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The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and earlier effective dates for tension headaches and lower back condition. The remaining issues of service connection for eye, neck, persistent cough, TBI residuals, and bilateral leg conditions are REMANDED.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a rating of 100 percent for PTSD is granted, and the issue of service connection for sleep apnea is readjudicated. The TDIU issue is dismissed due to the grant of a 100 percent rating for PTSD. The issues of service connection for headaches, lower back condition, and hypertension are remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to a lack of VA examinations and consideration of all relevant evidence, including his National Guard service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of adequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's pre-existing pes planus was aggravated by service.
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