The Board has decided to remand the case for a new examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The examiner will need to address whether there is clear and unmistakable evidence that the Veteran had a preexisting TBI prior to enlistment, if so, whether it was aggravated by service. They must also determine if the current residual symptoms are at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's service.
The deciding factor: The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and opinion due to the need to address the correct legal standard regarding preexisting conditions in service.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 16, 2017
- Citation
- 1704746
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 1704746.
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 Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury, seizure disorder, photophobia, and headaches are being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration records.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a right shoulder condition, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, and TBI residuals due to potential errors in obtaining necessary medical opinions.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to in-service blast injuries, finding that the evidence is at least in approximate balance regarding the presence of a link between the Veteran's in-service injuries and his current TBI residuals.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to provide a VA examination and obtain an etiology opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed in-service head injury.
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