The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left thumb disability, to include residuals of a left thumb fracture. However, further development is needed as the VA examination and additional medical records are required before the claims can be adjudicated.
The deciding factor: New evidence received since the January 1998 rating decision relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim of service connection for a left thumb disability, to include residuals of a left thumb fracture. The Veteran's service treatment records are missing and further examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his current left thumb condition.
- Claimed conditions
- left thumb fracture, osteoarthritis, ulnar collateral injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 27, 2017
- Citation
- 1760193
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 1760193.
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
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