The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for right fifth metacarpophalangeal open dislocation with scar and service connection for spondylosis of the spine are being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for further examination.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there were outstanding VA treatment records from Tricare Prime and Dr. Winegar, which need to be obtained before proceeding with the claims.
- Claimed conditions
- right fifth metacarpophalangeal open dislocation with scar, spondylosis of the spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 5, 2019
- Citation
- 19183177
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,726 · Granted: 19% (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 19183177.
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 Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for spondylolisthesis and spondylosis (back condition) due to incomplete service personnel records and unverified periods of active duty for training.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been submitted. The Veteran's lumbar spine strain, spondylosis, and right knee disability are to be evaluated by a VA examiner.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, spondylosis of the spine, and bilateral hydroceles and epidermal cysts. The Board found no medical evidence linking these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure basis.
- Denied
The Veteran's current disabilities are not due to the 1989 motorcycle accident, which occurred outside of VA care and treatment.
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