The Board has not received all of the Veteran's medical records from the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center, which have been transferred to the Birmingham VA Medical Center. The case is being remanded to obtain these records.
The deciding factor: The RO did not follow up with the Birmingham VAMC to specifically request the transferred records from the Tuscaloosa VAMC and failed to inform the Veteran of this situation as required by regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic schizophrenia, undifferentiated type
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 12, 2018
- Citation
- 18134467
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 18134467.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his service connection of chronic schizophrenia, undifferentiated type, awarded in 1985 is dismissed as the original decision became final.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for chronic schizophrenia, undifferentiated type is being remanded due to the need for additional development of records.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case to comply with a Joint Motion for Remand, which requires an adequate examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further review and a Travel Board hearing.
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