The Veteran's appeal involves two issues: (1) reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private orthopedic clinic on June 3, 2013; and (2) prior authorization for VA care provided to the Veteran on May 16-17, 2013. The Board finds that additional development is needed to address these issues.
The deciding factor: The AOJ has not obtained all relevant documents from the claims file, including specific medical records and VCAA notices, which are necessary for a complete review of the Veteran's appeal.
- Claimed conditions
- type II diabetes mellitus, left knee disability, right and left lower and upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathies, tinnitus, hearing loss, a left leg scar, erectile dysfunction
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 5, 2019
- Citation
- 19126215
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 remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, cubital tunnel syndrome, right plantar fasciitis, and a right knee disability due to the lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of April 25, 2022, for the award of service connection for tinnitus and a 100 percent initial rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder.
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