The Board has determined that VA examinations are required to determine whether the Veteran's claimed disabilities are etiologically related to service. The claims for bilateral upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, C6 radiculopathy, knee disorders, and ankle disorders are being remanded.
The deciding factor: The Board found a duty to assist error occurred prior to the issuance of the December 2020 rating decision on appeal due to the lack of VA examinations for the claimed disabilities. The Veteran's service in Iraq and Kuwait may have exposed her to toxic exposure, but an exception applies as the disabilities are based on physical trauma.
- Claimed conditions
- left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, left upper extremity C6 radiculopathy, right upper extremity C6 radiculopathy, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 22, 2024
- Citation
- A24026975
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 A24026975.
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 Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing proper notice regarding secondary service connection.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral strain, asthma, melasma and hydradenitis, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression, anxiety, and stress), left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, a left foot disorder, and IBS have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in obtaining relevant medical records and authorization for private treatment providers. The issues include heart disorder, OSA, sinusitis, lumbar spine disorder, and right knee disorder all related to Agent Orange exposure.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, and will need an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disorder is related to his parachute jumps during service.
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