The Board has remanded the issue of whether the appellant's discharge is a bar to VA compensation benefits due to insufficient evidence regarding his mental state during service. The case will be reviewed after obtaining a medical opinion.
The deciding factor: The decision was remanded because there were insufficient records and contact information for the appellant, preventing a proper assessment of his mental health at the time of discharge.
- Claimed conditions
- Unauthorized absence in February 1997, Unauthorized absence in March 1997, Use of marijuana in April 1997
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 18, 2020
- Citation
- 20079982
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
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.