The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left wrist disability, right shoulder disability, medial epicondylitis of the right elbow, and an acquired psychiatric disability as new and relevant evidence has been received to reopen these claims.
The deciding factor: New and relevant evidence was submitted after the prior final denial of the claims, specifically a September 2020 private medical opinion that diagnosed degenerative joint disease of the left wrist and right shoulder, which were not previously considered in the February 2010 rating decision.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative joint disease of the left wrist, Right shoulder tendinitis and degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder, Medial epicondylitis of the right elbow, Acquired psychiatric disability (including alcohol abuse disorder, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder, traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-concussion, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD))
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 9, 2025
- Citation
- A25058858
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 claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for major depressive disorder is dismissed as moot because the earliest effective date was granted during the pendency of this appeal.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding their etiology.
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