The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating of left thumb degenerative joint disease remains pending. The Board has found substantial compliance with the remand directives regarding the left thumb appeal, but TDIU is still being addressed due to the need for additional VA examinations.
The deciding factor: Additional VA examinations are required to determine the Veteran's ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation given his service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- left thumb degenerative joint disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 10, 2023
- Citation
- 23044684
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 23044684.
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.
- Dismissed
The claim for service connection for left thumb degenerative joint disease was dismissed due to an erroneous docketing of the appeal and no final rating decision having been issued.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease, right foot strain with degenerative arthritis, and left thumb degenerative joint disease. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service complaints and subsequent diagnoses.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's left thumb degenerative joint disease was previously rated at 10 percent, and the Board has now remanded for a new examination to determine if his condition warrants an increased rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal for higher disability evaluation of his left thumb degenerative joint disease is remanded due to incomplete examination. The TDIU issue is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the initial rating claim.
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