The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including increased ratings for cervical spine disability, right upper extremity neurological disorder, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right fifth metacarpal fracture, and left index finger fracture. The issues also include eligibility for financial assistance for an automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only, specially adapted housing or special home adaptation, and special monthly compensation based on a need for aid and attendance or due to being housebound.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's claims required further development as evidenced by the need for new VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities and determine if he is permanently bedridden or in need of regular aid and attendance.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical Spine Diskectomy and Fusion, Right Fifth Metacarpal Fracture, Left Index Finger Fracture, Right Upper Extremity Neurological Disorder, Residuals of a Cervical Spine Diskectomy and Fusion, Residuals of a Right Fifth Metacarpal Fracture, Residuals of a Left Index Finger Fracture
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 22, 2019
- Citation
- 19188399
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,987 · Granted: 15% (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 19188399.
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 denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right and left upper extremity neurological disorders, finding that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 50 percent for the major right upper extremity or higher than 30 percent for the minor left upper extremity.
- Granted
The Veteran's right upper extremity neurological disorder is rated at 40 percent since May 4, 2021. The rating will remain at 40 percent until further notice.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable disability rating for his service-connected right fifth metacarpal fracture and for service connection for a left leg disability, separate and apart from the service-connected scar of the left anterior thigh were both denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating under the applicable VA Rating Schedule.
- Granted
The Veteran's right forearm disability has been granted a maximum rating of 70 percent, effective from the date of this decision. The claim for service connection for GERD and left arm disorder is remanded.
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