The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral wrist CTS and a back condition due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's claim for bilateral wrist CTS will be remanded to obtain a new VA opinion regarding whether her bilateral wrist CTS had its onset in service or is otherwise related to service, specifically addressing her in-service MOS involving typing. The Veteran's claim for a back condition will be remanded to obtain a new VA examination and opinion to determine the nature of her current back disability and whether it is due to her service.
The deciding factor: The Board found duty-to-assist errors in obtaining opinions related to the onset and relationship of the Veteran's bilateral wrist CTS and back condition to her service, specifically addressing her MOS involving typing for the wrist conditions and her lay statements regarding the onset and continuity of her symptoms for the back condition.
- Claimed conditions
- left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, back condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 23, 2024
- Citation
- A24040077
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 A24040077.
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 claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the addition of new evidence. The Veteran is also asked to complete a TDIU claim form, and his bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and face numbness need to be evaluated.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, including degenerative disc disease and scoliosis, due to lack of current disability evidence.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his request.,Service connection for a back condition is denied as there is no evidence that the condition began during service or is related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to predecisional duty-to-assist errors, including inadequate medical opinions and missed VA examinations. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition is being returned to the RO for further action.
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