The Board has ordered the AOJ to make further efforts to obtain copies of missing medical records and a new medical opinion on the relationship between the Veteran's myotonic myopathy and his service-connected disabilities. The case is being remanded for these actions.
The deciding factor: The decision was not about service connection but rather about whether the Veteran’s myotonic myopathy was caused by or permanently aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc and joint disease and left Bell's Palsy.
- Claimed conditions
- myotonic myopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 24, 2018
- Citation
- 18144240
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 18144240.
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 decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection for myotonic myopathy, specifically addressing whether it was caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability and if there is a nexus with Gulf War exposure.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether myotonic myopathy was caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability, specifically degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of evidence in his service treatment records and the need for further medical examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has ordered the VA to make further efforts to obtain copies of records from the Veteran's deceased primary care physician. The AOJ must also arrange for an addendum opinion from a qualified person regarding whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s myotonic myopathy was caused by, or has been permanently aggravated by, his service-connected disabilities.
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