The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for her left thumb injury with limited motion is remanded due to the inadequacy of the January 2022 VA examination and the need for an addendum opinion.
The deciding factor: The January 2022 VA examination was inadequate as it did not consider pain and fatigability during flare-ups, which significantly limit the Veteran's functional ability with these conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- left thumb injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 16, 2022
- Citation
- 22028648
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 22028648.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for status post reconstruction of right nasal side-wall defect with advancement flap with pharyngitis and remanded the other issues.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for facial scarring, left index finger injury, left ring finger injury, left little finger injury, left thumb injury, left wrist injury, and skin disease (claimed as 'rash all over body') due to potential new evidence. The Veteran will be provided a VA examination if his preexisting conditions are confirmed during the appellate period.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining service treatment records, determining if the Veteran was exposed to toxic substances while serving in the Navy, and providing a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's prostate cancer.
- Denied
The Veteran's left thumb disability has been manifested by limited or painful motion, but not ankylosis of the thumb. The Board denied a higher rating as his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5228 and 5224.
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