The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right thumb disability, specifically whether it is related to service. The Veteran needs a VA examination to provide this information.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was not enough evidence in the record to determine if the current right thumb disability is related to service, necessitating further investigation through a VA examination.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of a right thumb injury, traumatic arthritis of the right MCP joint
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 8, 2020
- Citation
- 20065425
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,699 · 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 20065425.
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.
- Dismissed
Your appeal has been dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of your appeal. The Board cannot issue a decision on the underlying claim(s) at this time.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a right thumb injury, a right wrist disability, and a left knee disability. The decisions are based on the Veteran's reported in-service injuries and current diagnoses.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical records and a need for an examination of the Veteran's right thumb residuals. The claim will be reconsidered after these actions are completed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development on issues related to a higher rating for right thumb injuries and TDIU. The Veteran's employment history is unclear, and his Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits claim records are needed.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.