The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for mitral valve regurgitation and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral feet and left leg. The claims are now remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and service, including environmental or toxic exposure during her Southwest Asia service.
The deciding factor: The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims based on new evidence received since the last final denial that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim of service connection for mitral valve regurgitation and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral feet and left leg. The claims are now remanded as additional medical opinions are needed regarding the relationship between these conditions and service, including environmental or toxic exposure during her Southwest Asia service.
- Claimed conditions
- mitral valve regurgitation, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral feet and left leg, bilateral shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left elbow disability, right elbow disability, insomnia, acoustic neuroma (claimed as a brain tumor), low back disability, cervical spine disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 12, 2021
- Citation
- 21014453
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 21014453.
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 Veteran's right shoulder disability and migraines/chronic headaches are remanded for additional development due to insufficient opinions on the etiology of her conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability and increased ratings for her bilateral knee disabilities, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied the claims of service connection for cervical spine and skin rash disabilities, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to active military service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder disability, abdominal hernia, GERD, bilateral ankle disabilities, and bilateral foot disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during the appellant's period of active duty.
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