The veteran is seeking an increased evaluation for his service-connected right hand disability, but the case has been remanded due to the need for further medical examination and development of records.
The deciding factor: Further medical examination is needed to determine the current nature and severity of any nerve damage and/or loss of sensation in the right hand.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals, right traumatic amputation of little finger distal phalanx, fracture of index finger distal phalanx, fracture of distal phalanx of base of right thumb, traumatic arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 19, 2003
- Citation
- 0335880
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0335880.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher rating for service-connected right ankle with traumatic arthritis (claimed as right ankle instability). The Board dismissed the appeal.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating higher than 20% for his left shoulder disability, stating that the evidence did not support a higher rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's left hip disability is currently rated noncompensable due to painful motion but not showing flexion limited to 45 degrees or less. The Board has remanded the claims for GERD and a right hip disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and further development is required. The Veteran's left wrist disability remains service-connected, but a compensable rating for the fracture is not granted. The issue of TDIU is also inextricably intertwined with the rating claim.
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