The Board has remanded the case for further examination and clarification of the Veteran's right thumb ankylosis. The current rating remains at 10 percent due to functional impairment.
The deciding factor: The June 2019 VA examiner found ankylosis in both the metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints, but did not specify whether it was of the carpometacarpal joint. Clarification is needed on this point to determine if a higher rating can be assigned.
- Claimed conditions
- Healed right first metacarpophalangeal fracture with residual thumb fibrosis, osteoarthritis, and trigger thumb
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- July 30, 2020
- Citation
- 20050800
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 20050800.
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 appeal for a higher rating for his right thumb disability was denied as the evidence did not show ankylosis or a gap of more than two inches between the thumb pad and fingers, with the thumb attempting to oppose the fingers.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
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