The Board has found that the reduction from a 20 percent rating to a noncompensable rating for limitation of motion of the left thumb was improper. The Veteran's appeal is now remanded for further evaluation and consideration.
The deciding factor: The correct facts, as they were known at the time, were not before the AOJ in October 2012 when the initial rating decision was made, leading to a reduction from 20 percent to noncompensable. The Board found that there is no clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in this decision.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Thumb Disability, Left Index Finger Disability, Left Long Finger Disability, Left Ring Finger Disability, Left Little Finger Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 20, 2018
- Citation
- 18127796
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 18127796.
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.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any of the claimed disabilities and therefore, service connection for right thumb, left thumb, right index finger, left index finger, right middle finger, left middle finger, right ring finger, left ring finger, right small finger, or left small finger disabilities is denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for several disabilities, including left thumb, left wrist, right hip, back, and sciatic nerve conditions, but denied service connection for diabetes mellitus.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for TBI, RLE radicular pain, sinusitis, and an increased rating for PTSD. The claims for service connection for DM II, ED, headaches, left thumb disability and scar, right thumb, increased ratings for rhinitis, IBS with GERD, and OSA with bronchitis were remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 50 percent rating for adjustment disorder with anxiety and denied higher ratings for the left and right knee disabilities, as well as service connection for various other conditions.
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