The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to conflicting evidence regarding the nature of his left fifth finger amputation, associated urinary leakage with erectile dysfunction and varicocele, and the need for further medical development.
The deciding factor: The decision is based on conflicting evidence regarding the nature of the Veteran's service-connected conditions and the need for additional medical examination to clarify these issues.
- Claimed conditions
- Fingertip amputation of the left fifth finger, Erectile dysfunction with low testosterone, Varicocele
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 18, 2020
- Citation
- 20054573
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 20054573.
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 hypertension has been granted an increased rating of 10 percent, effective August 20, 2024. The varicocele issue remains at the noncompensable level.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected Parkinsonism, as it meets the criteria for such benefits.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, as well as his claim for a TDIU due to the submission of new evidence. The AOJ is instructed to readjudicate these issues and request that the Veteran complete a VA Form 21-8940 listing his employment history since June 2017.
- Granted
The Veteran's initial rating for scars of the right mastoid and ear, as well as his varicocele prior to June 30, 2016, was granted. From June 30, 2016, a higher rating for varicocele was also granted.
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