The Board remands the claims for service connection for right and left hand conditions to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, as VA did not provide a medical examination despite evidence of in-service treatment.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the need to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error by scheduling a VA examination due to the presence of in-service treatment records and symptoms possibly attributable to hand conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- right hand condition, left hand condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 3, 2025
- Citation
- A25031299
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 remands the claims for service connection for right and left leg conditions, as well as right and left hand conditions, to schedule VA examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right hand conditions to correct a duty to assist error.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for several conditions, including OSA, cervical spine condition, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, and others, but dismissed appeals for obesity, TMJ, insomnia, left elbow, and right elbow. The Board also denied an earlier effective date for a 70% rating for acquired psychiatric disorder.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition, left hand condition, and right hip condition as there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.
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