The Veteran's left index finger disability has been granted a 10% rating. The appeal for service connection of radiculopathy of the upper extremity is remanded due to need for additional examination and opinion.
The deciding factor: Additional evidence may be submitted concerning an in-service event or injury, but no VA medical examination was required as the Veteran's upper radiculopathy cannot be service connected as secondary to her neck disability. However, a peripheral nerves examination is needed to assess whether her upper radiculopathy has been aggravated by her service-connected back disability and/or carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Claimed conditions
- left index finger disability, rheumatoid arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- September 17, 2018
- Citation
- 18135258
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 18135258.
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 Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis disability rating is being remanded for additional development due to significant weight loss and anemia.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and hepatic steatosis have been denied. The claim for rheumatoid arthritis is being remanded.,Service connection has not been established for the claimed conditions.
- Partly granted
Service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren's syndrome is granted.,Service connection for hypertension is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its onset in service or as a result of a disease or injury in active service.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal of a 10% rating for left index finger disability since July 12, 2016 is dismissed because the initial decision was not an 'initial decision' under the AMA and proper procedures were not followed.
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