The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected fracture of the right fifth metacarpal is being remanded due to insufficient consideration of diagnostic codes and an unclear August 2004 VA medical examiner's opinion. The Veteran will be scheduled for another orthopedic examination.
The deciding factor: The Board failed to consider all applicable diagnostic codes or explain the reasons and bases for the chosen diagnostic codes, as well as the August 2004 VA medical examiner's opinion was too ambiguous.
- Claimed conditions
- fracture of the right fifth metacarpal
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 4, 2009
- Citation
- 0946218
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 0946218.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not prevent him from maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the Veteran is unemployable due to non-service connected conditions, such as his renal failure requiring dialysis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a new examination and opinion from a neurologist regarding the etiology of his myotonic dystrophy, and an orthopedic examination to determine the severity of his right fifth metacarpal fracture.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings are being remanded to obtain additional medical examinations and to obtain outstanding VA and private treatment records.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeal is for an initial compensable rating for residuals of a fracture of the right fifth metacarpal. The Board finds that there is no evidence to support a higher rating, as his disability does not meet criteria for an amputation or significant interference with hand function.
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