The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, requesting a new opinion on whether the Veteran has service-related TBI residuals including memory loss or difficulty concentrating.
The deciding factor: The September 2019 VA examiner's assessment and opinions were unclear and equivocal, failing to address the Board’s questions regarding the Veteran's reported symptoms and evidence of record.
- Claimed conditions
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) residuals, Memory loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 31, 2020
- Citation
- 20051127
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 20051127.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's request to readjudicate his claims for service connection for PTSD (claimed as schizophrenia), headaches, and schizophrenia. The claim for memory loss and residuals of head injury remains denied due to lack of new and relevant evidence.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities has been granted. The Board found that the Veteran requires assistance with eating, dressing, hygiene needs, medication management, housekeeping, meal preparation, and laundry.
- Granted
The Veteran's need for supervision, protection, or instruction on a continuous basis due to memory loss and the need for back surgery has been recognized. The Board has granted a Level 2 stipend under VA's PCAFC program.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's current memory loss is likely caused by head trauma sustained during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
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