The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's painful left thumb scar and remanded the claim for an increased rating for status post RCL repair left thumb MCP joint due to insufficient examination evidence.
The deciding factor: The October 2022 and October 2023 examinations were found inadequate as they did not estimate range of motion during flare-ups or discuss the ameliorative effects of medication on such range of motion.
- Claimed conditions
- painful left thumb scar, status post RCL repair left thumb MCP joint
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 28, 2025
- Citation
- A25028962
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 Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various thumb conditions and scars, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
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