The Board has decided to remand the case due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including failing to obtain private medical records from Dr. Farhut Husain and Dr. Joseph Weissman, and not obtaining SSA records.
The deciding factor: The AOJ committed pre-decisional duty to assist errors by not obtaining relevant private medical records and SSA records that could have provided additional context for the appellant's claim.
- Claimed conditions
- multiple sclerosis, bilateral upper and lower extremity weakness, vision impairment
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 17, 2020
- Citation
- A20017029
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A20017029.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for tinea pedis and dismissed the claims for tinnitus, multiple sclerosis, neck condition, and low back condition.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and remanded the claims for a thyroid condition, a prostate/UTI condition, and vision impairment.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple sclerosis, finding that the condition initially manifested within seven years of discharge from active service.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple sclerosis, finding that the evidence is in equipoise and at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's service.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.