The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are remanded due to procedural errors in obtaining relevant medical records and conducting examinations.
The deciding factor: Procedural errors were identified, including the failure to obtain private physical therapy records and mental health treatment records from The Vet Center. Additionally, VA orthopedic examinations did not include testing for pain on both active and passive motion or in weightbearing and non-weightbearing.
- Claimed conditions
- right third distal interphalangeal (DIP) synovitis, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine, cervical strain, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 7, 2023
- Citation
- A23031105
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A23031105.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions were granted effective from July 1, 2020.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to a procedural defect in filing the claims on the correct form.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and cervical strain due to a duty to assist error. The AOJ failed to obtain VA medical opinions addressing the etiology of these disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection of chronic neck pain and cervical strain, finding that the Veteran did not file a claim for these conditions until June 28, 2013.
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