The Board has determined that additional development is needed to confirm the Veteran's service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations and to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed Gulf War illness.
The deciding factor: The Board found insufficient evidence to establish the Veteran’s service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations, which is required for claims under 38 U.S.C. § 1117. Additionally, the current VA examinations were deemed inadequate and new medical opinions are needed to address the etiology of the Veteran's claimed Gulf War illness.
- Claimed conditions
- musculoskeletal pain, bone growths, muscle weakness, paresthesias
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 2, 2019
- Citation
- 19190449
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,077 · Granted: 25% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19190449.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal is remanded due to new evidence submitted after the initial decision, which includes private dermatologist treatment records diagnosing lymphedema. The VA examiner's opinion prior to this submission was deemed inadequate.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands all service connection claims for additional development, including obtaining a TERA memorandum and new medical opinions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted service connection for fatigue and musculoskeletal pain due to an undiagnosed illness, effective May 20, 2005, based on clear and unmistakable error in a prior December 2005 rating decision.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for muscle weakness, anoxic brain injury, heart failure, and dysphagia as secondary to respiratory failure with hypoxia, and denied special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status.
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