The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to an inadequate medical opinion in August 2010, which did not consider whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or contributed to his death from blunt force head trauma.
The deciding factor: The VA clinician is requested to provide a supplemental opinion considering whether any of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral knee arthritis, caused or contributed substantially or materially to his death from blunt force head trauma.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral knee arthritis, psychogenic headaches, perforated right ear drum, left foot shell fragment wound
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 3, 2015
- Citation
- 1537821
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1537821.
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
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right lower leg disability (claimed as right shin splints) due to insufficient evidence linking his current condition to his active service. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current right leg disability and that any symptoms he experienced were related to bilateral knee arthritis, which is not presumed by VA law.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because the Board Appeal request was not timely filed within one year of the rating decision, and no good cause for extension was presented.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because the Board Appeal request was not timely filed within one year of the May 31, 2024 rating decision.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claims for bilateral hip arthritis, acquired psychiatric disorder, right shoulder arthritis, and bilateral knee arthritis have been granted as they are found to be related to his active-duty service.
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