The Veteran's claim for VR&E benefits is remanded due to insufficient rationale provided by the AOJ and lack of a vocational rehabilitation evaluation considering his current symptomatology. The Veteran should be afforded a new evaluation that considers his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to pursue a medical career.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on insufficient rationale from the AOJ and lacks consideration of the Veteran's current symptomatology related to his service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 7, 2020
- Citation
- A20015287
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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