The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting opinions regarding whether retinitis pigmentosa is a congenital defect or disease. Additional development, including an addendum opinion from the VA examiner, is needed.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that additional development is necessary prior to final adjudication of the matter due to conflicting opinions as to whether retinitis pigmentosa is a congenital defect or congenital disease.
- Claimed conditions
- retinitis pigmentosa
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 31, 2020
- Citation
- 20082036
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 granted an earlier effective date of January 3, 2001, for service connection for retinitis pigmentosa based on the re-evaluation of previously unassociated service treatment records.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral eye disorders, including retinitis pigmentosa and cataracts, had their onset during service or are otherwise related to his military service.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for retinitis pigmentosa and denied service connection for a heart condition. The Veteran's current bilateral eye retinitis pigmentosa is considered to have been incurred in service, with the presumption of soundness rebutted due to aggravation during service.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's retinitis pigmentosa is a result of his military service and has granted service connection for this condition.
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