The Board remands the claim for service connection for a left wrist disability, to include De Quervain's syndrome, due to a duty to assist error in verifying the Veteran's status during periods of July and August 2009 and obtaining an adequate medical opinion.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner's opinions were found inadequate as they did not address the Veteran's lay statements or injuries sustained during martial arts training. Additionally, there was a need to verify the Veteran's status during specific periods of service.
- Claimed conditions
- left wrist disability, to include De Quervain's syndrome
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 4, 2025
- Citation
- A25049400
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 appeal for further examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral upper extremity disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions of the left and right hands, shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees, ankles, and foot, but granted service connection for a right knee disability and fibromyalgia. The decision was based on medical evidence that did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for hypothyroidism and migraines was dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal. The appeals for right and left wrist disabilities are remanded for further development.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions and a TDIU, as the evidence did not support a finding that any of these disabilities were related to the Veteran's military service.
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