The Board remands the claims for higher ratings and a TDIU due to service-connected right hand and finger disabilities for additional development, as the prior instructions were not substantially complied with.
The deciding factor: The examinations failed to fully comply with the requirements of Sharp v. Shulkin, 29 Vet. App. 33 (2017), particularly in regard to flare-ups and functional impairment during flares.
- Claimed conditions
- Loss of motion of the right thumb, Loss of motion of the right index finger, Loss of motion of the right long finger, Loss of motion of the right ring finger, Loss of motion of the right little finger, Right-hand sprain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 21, 2025
- Citation
- 25006957
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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