The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis, and neuromyelitis optica are remanded for further examination and medical opinion due to the unclear nature of his current disabilities and potential relationship to service.
The deciding factor: The Board finds an indication of an association between the currently claimed disabilities and the Veteran’s military service, specifically exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. However, a VA examination is needed to clarify the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Camp Lejeune water
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20006885
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 claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus to obtain further medical opinions regarding their potential relationship to toxic exposures during active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for right foot, left elbow, left hip, left ankle, and diabetes mellitus to obtain additional medical evidence.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for tinea pedis and dismissed the claims for tinnitus, multiple sclerosis, neck condition, and low back condition.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for cervical spine condition, diabetes mellitus, heart condition, lumbar spine condition, and urinary frequency and voiding condition as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service incurrence or aggravation.
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