The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the connection between the Veteran's current blood disorder and his service. The VA needs to request an addendum opinion from a clinician to determine if there is at least as likely as not that the blood disorder developed during active service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the existing medical evidence, including the December 2015 VA examination, was insufficient to establish a connection between the Veteran's current blood disorder and his service. The examiner needs to provide an opinion on whether there is at least as likely as not that the blood disorder developed during active service.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic blood disorder, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 4, 2019
- Citation
- 19142650
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 withdrew all nine issues on appeal, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review the denial of these claims.
- Denied
The Board found no current diagnosis of a chronic blood disorder and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.