The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for left lateral femoral cutaneous nerve damage and right supraspinatus tendonitis with chronic right latissimus dorsi muscle strain. The Board has remanded these issues.,The Veteran also seeks a separate rating for his right thumb impairment, which he claims is related to his service-connected right hand disability. This issue was previously addressed by the Board in 2011 and remains on appeal.,Finally, the Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tear of anterior labrum and femoral acetabular impingement syndrome, degenerative joint disease of the left hip, and left hip scar tissue. The Board has also remanded this issue.
The deciding factor: The issues involve determining whether new evidence was submitted to reopen a claim or if an earlier effective date is warranted for service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- left lateral femoral cutaneous nerve damage, right supraspinatus tendonitis with chronic right latissimus dorsi muscle strain, tear of anterior labrum and femoral acetabular impingement syndrome, degenerative joint disease of the left hip, and left hip scar tissue, loss of use of right hand
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 31, 2017
- Citation
- 1736351
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 1736351.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issue of entitlement to a higher level of special monthly compensation (SMC) for the Veteran, as he was not scheduled for a VA examination and opinion on whether he needs a higher level of care.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for the loss of use of his right hand as secondary to service-connected disabilities has been granted. The evidence shows that this condition is due to his service-connected injuries.
- Partly granted
The veteran's service connection for a low back condition and foot drop was granted, but denied for erectile dysfunction and loss of use of the right hand.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals of entitlement to SMC based on loss of use of right hand and service connection for bilateral upper extremity neuropathy as the Veteran, through his representative, withdrew these claims.
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