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
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,456 · Granted: 23% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using 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.
- Denied
The Veteran's right-hand sprain, right thumb disability, and right index finger disability have been rated at the highest available schedular rating for limitation of motion.,The Veteran's right long finger disability has also been rated at the highest available schedular rating for limitation of motion.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection and increased ratings to ensure that all necessary development is completed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his right hand injuries, including ratings for sprain and loss of motion in various fingers. The Board has determined that these claims require a remand due to the need to locate the examiner's curriculum vitae.
- Granted
The Veteran's back condition is service-connected.,Glaucoma was not incurred in or aggravated by military service.
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