The Board has remanded the Veteran's increased rating claims for left index finger and thumb disabilities due to insufficient discussion in the August 2022 VA examination report regarding functional amputation, and inadequate reasoning on whether the impairment is equivalent to ankylosis.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was not substantial compliance with the February 2023 remand directives as the VA examiner did not consider the August 2022 VA examination report findings or address the Veteran's assertion of functional loss due to reduced range of motion and her statement of total loss of function.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Index Finger, Left Thumb
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 5, 2024
- Citation
- 24000861
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,036 · Granted: 27% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 24000861.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted earlier effective dates of January 21, 2015 for the Veteran's claims related to his right thumb, left thumb, right index finger, left index finger, right long finger, and left long finger. The Board also granted a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical inquiry into her disability of the left index finger and thumb, including whether there is functional ankylosis or amputation equivalent.
- Granted
The Veteran's initial disability rating for a left thumb and ring finger disability is granted at 10 percent. For the period prior to November 18, 2011, his right great toe disability is also granted an initial compensable rating of 10 percent.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left thumb, index finger, long finger, ring finger, and little finger disabilities have been denied as the current ratings of 20 percent for each condition are considered to be the maximum allowable under VA regulations.
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