The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining outstanding records and scheduling VA examinations. The issues include rating his service-connected disabilities of the back and upper extremities, as well as a claim for TDIU.
The deciding factor: The decision is based on the need to obtain additional medical evidence and ensure that all relevant records are considered in evaluating the Veteran's claims.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back strain with degenerative changes, Carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow affecting the right upper extremity, Carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow affecting the left upper extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 3, 2021
- Citation
- 21006348
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 21006348.
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal of the proposed reduction from 30 percent to 10 percent for GERD is dismissed. The appeal of a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for low back strain with degenerative changes is denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following any substantially gainful occupation prior to October 22, 2020.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for his bilateral upper extremity and back disabilities were denied. The rating for ulnar nerve entrapment at elbow (left upper extremity) was denied as the disability did not meet the criteria for a greater than 20 percent rating. Similarly, the rating for carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar nerve entrapment at elbow (right upper extremity) was also denied. The rating for low back strain with degenerative changes was denied due to lack of evidence showing severe incomplete paralysis or ankylosis.
- Granted
The Veteran was granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) from May 1, 2011. The decision is based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.
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