The Veteran's initial claim for an initial 10 percent rating for his right thumb condition is granted. The issue of service connection for a right-hand condition is remanded.
The deciding factor: The decision was not about service connection, but rather the rating assigned to the right thumb condition and the need to address the right-hand condition in a Statement of the Case.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative joint disease trapeziometacarpal joint right thumb, Right-hand condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 28, 2019
- Citation
- 19122991
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,170 · Granted: 38% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19122991.
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 reopened the claim for service connection of a right-hand condition due to new and material evidence. However, it denied the claim as there is no persuasive evidence that the Veteran's injury occurred during his honorable period of service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to deficiencies in previous opinions and the need for addendum opinions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for joint disability, bilateral shoulder condition, right-hand condition, left-hand condition, and sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions in previous decisions. The claims are being returned for further development.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been withdrawn and are dismissed. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened, but not granted.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.