Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hand gout arthritis with reduced grip strength and bilateral wrist/arm sprain and carpal tunnel due to an incomplete VA medical opinion.
The deciding factor: The August 2024 VA examiner's opinions were deemed inadequate as they did not consider the Veteran's lay contentions of cold weather exposure during service, which is a required factor in determining service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- left hand gout arthritis with reduced grip strength, left wrist/arm sprain and carpal tunnel, right hand gout arthritis with reduced grip strength, right wrist/arm sprain and carpal tunnel
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 6, 2025
- Citation
- A25096683
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