The Veteran's appeal involves two main issues: seeking an earlier effective date for service connection and a higher initial evaluation for causalgia of the right hand. The case is being remanded to obtain updated treatment records, conduct a new VA examination, and address whether there was clear and unmistakable error in prior rating decisions.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's appeal requires additional development including obtaining updated medical records and conducting a new VA examination due to the complexity of his condition and the need for clarification regarding earlier effective dates and service connection issues.
- Claimed conditions
- causalgia of the right hand
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 29, 2010
- Citation
- 1044456
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 1044456.
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 VA granted an increased evaluation of 40 percent for causalgia of the right hand effective September 23, 1997.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
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