The Board remands the matter for further development, specifically to obtain a VA examination that complies with the requirements of Sharp v. Shulkin and Stegall v. West.
The deciding factor: The February 2024 VA examination was found inadequate as it did not account for functional impairment during repeated use over time or provide an opinion based on estimates derived from all relevant sources, including lay statements.
- Claimed conditions
- right little finger disability
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 26, 2024
- Citation
- 24033505
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for higher ratings and TDIU due to incomplete VA examinations.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome, and disabilities affecting each finger as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease, including exposure to toxic exposure risk activities (TERAs).
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple orthopedic disabilities related to injuries sustained while wrestling in service.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as remanded a claim for further development.
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