The Veteran is seeking to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for residuals of concussion or traumatic brain injury, manifested by symptoms including vision impairment, loss of balance, headaches, dizziness, and memory problems. The Board has determined that additional clinical records from the Naval Hospital in Oakland are needed before deciding whether new and material evidence supports reopening the claim.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's representative requested access to the complete clinical records reflecting the Veteran's admissions to the Naval Hospital in Oakland for a possible concussion or traumatic brain injury, which were not previously available. These records may provide critical information necessary to determine if new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of concussion or traumatic brain injury, vision impairment, loss of balance, headaches, dizziness, memory problems
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 5, 2014
- Citation
- 1425389
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 1425389.
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.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of records and will provide a supplemental statement of the case if necessary.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches was reopened due to new and material evidence, and the Board found that his current headaches are related to service. Service connection is granted.
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