The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for traumatic arthritis of the right fifth finger is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current state of his condition.
The deciding factor: The Veteran reported worsening symptoms since his last VA examination, including fixed position and swelling in his right fifth finger. The Board finds that an additional examination is required to determine the current severity of his traumatic arthritis.
- Claimed conditions
- Traumatic arthritis of the right fifth finger
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 29, 2018
- Citation
- 18105859
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 18105859.
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 Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for traumatic arthritis of the right fifth finger, a residual scar on the right hand, and painful motion of the right ring finger. The Veteran is now receiving the highest available disability rating under applicable diagnostic codes.
- Granted
The Veteran's initial compensable rating for traumatic arthritis of the right fifth finger prior to December 3, 2013, is denied. From December 3, 2013, a 20 percent rating is granted.
- Denied
The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant, as his need is primarily due to a non-service-connected cerebrovascular accident.
- 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.
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