The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and incomplete record, requiring further development including a new VA examination to assess the Veteran's right-hand disability.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not provide an adequate diagnosis of a current right-hand disability separate from the service-connected right fifth finger, leading to the need for additional evidence and reconsideration.
- Claimed conditions
- Right-hand disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 23, 2020
- Citation
- 20074821
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 Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including GERD, headaches, bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disability, and multiple musculoskeletal and other conditions, as there was no evidence of a current disability related to the Veteran's active duty service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for the veteran's right shoulder, right-hand, left-hand, right foot, and left foot disabilities as there was no evidence to support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.
- Partly granted
The Board granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for left-hand and right-hand disabilities based on new and relevant evidence, but remanded them for a VA examination to determine their etiology.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
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.