The Board has remanded the case due to an error in not considering the Veteran's lay statements regarding his left thumb disability, including symptoms since service. The claim is now being reviewed with a new medical opinion.
The deciding factor: The examiner must consider and address the Veteran's reports of injuries and symptoms in service and thereafter, aligning them with how the current disabilities are known to develop.
- Claimed conditions
- left thumb disability, arthritis of left thumb, bony protrusion deformity of left thumb
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 9, 2026
- Citation
- A26033220
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A26033220.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following substantial gainful employment, leading to a grant of TDIU.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following substantial gainful employment, leading to a grant of TDIU.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for chronic dry eye, chronic fatigue syndrome, constipation, IBS, left little finger disability, left index finger disability, left thumb disability, left ring finger disability, left long finger disability, right ring finger disability, right index finger disability, right long finger disability, and right thumb disability due to an error in the initial decision. The Veteran was not provided with notice of her right to a hearing on these issues.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's neck disability but has remanded the issue of service connection for his left thumb disability due to a duty-to-assist error.
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