The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and secondary service connection are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors. Specifically, the AOJ failed to consider VA treatment records from August 2018 to June 2021 and did not adjudicate a separate evaluation for left wrist condition as a complication of his service-connected left 5th finger condition.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there were outstanding VA treatment records at the time of the September 2024 decision, which should have been considered in determining whether a separate rating is warranted for the Veteran's left wrist condition secondary to his service-connected left 5th finger condition.
- Claimed conditions
- status post fracture left 5th finger, left wrist condition (ulnar nerve dysfunction)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 24, 2026
- Citation
- A26026040
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 A26026040.
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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- Denied
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- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
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