The Veteran's appeals for a compensable disability rating and effective date prior to September 1, 2017 for service connection of residual scars on the left index finger and back have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection of bilateral ear infections, right ingrown big toenail, and left ingrown big toenail have been remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not provide sufficient evidence to establish a current disability or link it to active duty service. The Board found no competent medical evidence showing the existence of a current left-hand disorder.,Additional development is needed to reconcile conflicting VA treatment records and clinical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral ear infections, right ingrown big toenail, and left ingrown big toenail.
- Claimed conditions
- Residual scar of left index finger, Residual linear back scar, Left hand disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 29, 2020
- Citation
- 20043787
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 20043787.
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 Veteran's cervical spine disorder is denied as there is no medical evidence linking the condition to service.,The Veteran's right knee and left knee disorders are denied as there is no medical evidence linking them to service or secondary to a lower back disability.,The Veteran's left hand disorder remains pending, requiring additional medical opinion.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, jaw disorder, hernias, right hand disorder, left hand disorder, left index finger disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder as there was no evidence of a current disability at any time during the appeal period.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disorders, including a respiratory disorder, headache disorder, loss of balance/dizziness disorder, vision impairment, neck disorder, shoulder and arm disorders, wrist disorders, hand disorders, feet and toes disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete evidentiary record.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for residuals of a right hand burn and remanded several other issues, including entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a hiatal hernia surgical repair, and claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, left hand disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, and cervical spine disorder.
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