The Board remands the service connection claims for various conditions due to outstanding VA and SSA records and a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error.
The deciding factor: Remand is necessary to obtain and consider any available SSA records as well as to provide the Veteran with notice of his right to a hearing before the AOJ.
- Claimed conditions
- bipolar disorder, bilateral hearing loss, right index finger strain with a bone fracture, right long finger strain with a bone fracture, right ring finger strain with a bone fracture, right little finger strain with a bone fracture, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, right cubital tunnel syndrome, left cubital tunnel syndrome, back condition, right hip degenerative joint disease, left hip degenerative joint disease, left knee strain, bilateral foot strain
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 20, 2025
- Citation
- A25026261
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for left knee strain, right knee strain, right wrist strain, and TBI. The Veteran's PTSD rating was remanded for further development.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal is remanded to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including the failure to obtain relevant treatment records and provide adequate VA examinations.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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