The Board has decided to remand the claims for higher initial ratings for right hand and scars disabilities, as well as left foot strain. The Veteran's service-connected conditions have worsened since the last VA examinations, warranting further evaluation.
The deciding factor: The Veteran indicated that his disabilities had worsened since the last November 2014 VA examinations, and he also indicated that this disability had worsened since the March 2018 examination. The Board found that re-examination is necessary to determine if the conditions have indeed worsened.
- Claimed conditions
- status-post fracture of 4th and 5th digit of the right hand, right hand scars status-post surgery, left foot strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 15, 2020
- Citation
- 20003435
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,196 · Granted: 17% (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 20003435.
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 Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions were granted effective from July 1, 2020.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for left foot strain is dismissed.,Service connection for right elbow strain and tinnitus are denied.,Left ankle strain and right ankle strain are remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's left and right foot strains are rated at 20 percent each, effective October 1, 2024. The Board granted the ratings based on moderate severity of symptoms.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for left foot strain and left ankle strain due to a duty-to-assist error.
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