The Board remands the case for a new examination and medical opinion as to the etiology of any current left hand and finger disability.
The deciding factor: The November 2019 opinion is insufficient because it is predominantly based on the absence of documentation in the record and does not take into account the Veteran's reports of symptoms and history.
- Claimed conditions
- left hand and finger disability
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 8, 2021
- Citation
- 21062579
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 a right ankle disability, claimed as ankle pain, and left and right hand and finger disabilities because there was no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to the Veteran's active service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the remaining issues for further development.
- Partly granted
The veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability was readjudicated due to new evidence. Other claims, including those for left elbow, hand, shoulder, thigh, ankle, right elbow disabilities, cataracts, hypertension, diabetes, GERD, and chronic kidney disease were denied. The claim for a right knee disability was remanded.
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