The veteran seeks service connection for residuals of a right thumb injury. The RO denied the claim due to lack of in-service evidence, but the veteran provided an account of his alleged injury during service and submitted a statement from a munitions safety specialist who opined that either the weight of the massive bolt cycling back and forth or the impact of the cocking lever assembly could have caused the thumb injury. The RO has ordered a VA examination to determine if the current right thumb disability is at least as likely as not related to service.
The deciding factor: The veteran's account of an in-service injury was provided by a non-medical source, and no medical nexus linking the current disability to service has been established.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of a right thumb injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 11, 2008
- Citation
- 0842631
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 0842631.
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
Your appeal has been dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of your appeal. The Board cannot issue a decision on the underlying claim(s) at this time.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a right thumb injury, a right wrist disability, and a left knee disability. The decisions are based on the Veteran's reported in-service injuries and current diagnoses.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical records and a need for an examination of the Veteran's right thumb residuals. The claim will be reconsidered after these actions are completed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development on issues related to a higher rating for right thumb injuries and TDIU. The Veteran's employment history is unclear, and his Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits claim records are needed.
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