The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for arthritis of the left little finger and dental problems, as secondary to a service-connected condition. The claims are being returned due to inadequate or incomplete examination reports.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations were found to be inadequate in determining whether the Veteran currently has arthritis in his left little finger and if he has any neurological symptoms related to this condition. Additionally, there is insufficient evidence regarding the nature and diagnoses of the Veteran's dental problems.
- Claimed conditions
- arthritis, left little finger, dental problems
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 20, 2023
- Citation
- 23017314
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 23017314.
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.
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents, as there was a duty to assist error in not obtaining VA examinations to determine if any condition is caused or aggravated by his military service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for heart problems, right leg pain, back and side pain, bilateral foot pain, unsteady gait and dizzy spells, GERD, prostate cancer, dental problems, hemorrhoids, throat pain and bumps. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a direct relationship to service.,The Board also denied service connection for headaches, acquired psychiatric condition (to include PTSD), rash on face and arms, and bilateral eye pain.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury, dental problems, and sleep problems due to lack of relevant new evidence.
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