The Veteran's claims for effective dates and initial ratings related to Dupuytren's contracture of the right hand and associated scars are being remanded due to a duty to assist error.
The deciding factor: There is an identified duty to assist error in obtaining potentially relevant VA treatment records that were scanned into the Veteran's medical file but not included in the claims file at the time of the October 2019 and November 2019 rating decisions.
- Claimed conditions
- Dupuytren's contracture, right hand, Dupuytren's contracture, right hand thumb, Dupuytren's contracture, right hand long finger, Dupuytren's contracture, right hand index finger, Dupuytren's contracture, right hand ring finger, Dupuytren's contracture, right hand little finger, right hand scars
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 17, 2023
- Citation
- A23032715
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 A23032715.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful employment, leading to the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for left knee, right knee, lumbosacral strain, and right hand scars, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, urticaria, allergic rhinitis, tension headaches, shoulder bursitis, foot plantar fasciitis, ankle tendonitis, thumb strain, and PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder. The Board also remanded claims for fatigue, CFS, sleep apnea, and amputated left little finger.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including COPD and asbestosis, to obtain additional evidence.
- Partly granted
The appeal for revision of the December 1, 1953 rating decision was granted to reflect a special monthly compensation based on loss of use of the right hand. Other appeals were denied.
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