The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right hand degenerative joint disease began during service or was caused by his left middle finger condition.
The deciding factor: The November 2015 VA examiner did not discuss a December 1982 service treatment record and an August 2015 private rheumatologist note, which may affect the determination of whether the Veteran's right hand degenerative joint disease is related to his service or left middle finger condition.
- Claimed conditions
- right hand degenerative joint disease, left middle finger service-connected condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 5, 2018
- Citation
- 18116096
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 18116096.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for right hand degenerative joint disease, left hand degenerative joint disease, right knee arthritis, left knee patellofemoral arthritis, and right hip osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease to obtain additional medical opinions.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The appeal of a proposed rating reduction for a lumbar disorder is dismissed, and the claim for service connection for dyslipidemia is denied. Several claims for service connection are remanded.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for annual clothing allowances for his back brace and bilateral knee braces in 2020, but denied the claim for a right ankle brace due to lack of service-connected disability.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for recurrent right hand and left foot disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for additional development of the record.
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