The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ensure all relevant evidence is considered in the decision on appeal. This includes obtaining updated VA treatment records, seeking SSA records, and obtaining addendum opinions from VA examiners.
The deciding factor: Additional evidence is necessary for a thorough evaluation of the claims due to incomplete medical history and assertions by the Veteran regarding service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- bipolar disorder, alcohol abuse, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, degenerative joint disease and a tear of the medial meniscus of the left knee, lumbar spine disability, to include intervertebral disc dessication with disc bulges and arthrosis and muscle spams, neck disability, to include cervical myositis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 19, 2014
- Citation
- 1451219
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 1451219.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress and alcohol abuse, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to active service.
- Granted
The Veteran's bipolar disorder was rated at 50% and then reduced to 30%. The Board has now granted a 70% rating effective November 23, 2021, based on the improvement in her symptoms.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in loss of use of both feet, which qualifies her for an allowance for an automobile and adaptive equipment.
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