The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for essential tremors due to exposure to Agent Orange during military service. The previous VA opinion was deemed inadequate as it did not address whether the condition could present more than 10 years after exposure, and the examiner should provide an adequate etiology opinion following the directions provided in the earlier Board remand.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the previous VA opinion was insufficient due to its failure to explain why essential tremors could present more than 10 years after Agent Orange exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- essential tremors
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20081118
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 essential tremors to correct errors in fulfilling the duty to assist, specifically related to an inadequate examination and opinion.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for essential tremors to obtain an addendum VA medical opinion addressing the etiology of the condition, including its potential relation to service and secondary causes.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and a skin disability but granted service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatica) as secondary to service-connected lumbar strain and an initial 10 percent disability rating for essential tremors.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for essential tremors, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.