The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical records and a need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's malignant melanoma of the left iris with intermittent exotropia pre-existed service or was aggravated by service.
The deciding factor: The decision is based on conflicting medical evidence and the need for a VA examiner to review the claims file, including STRs and private medical records, to provide an opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's condition.
- Claimed conditions
- malignant melanoma of the left iris, intermittent exotropia
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 7, 2021
- Citation
- 21027848
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 21027848.
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 claim for service connection for a left eye disability was previously denied in 1973. New evidence has been submitted, and the claim is now reopened. The case is being remanded to obtain an examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the left eye condition.
- Granted
The Veteran has intermittent exotropia that is the result of injury incurred during active military service and this condition is now granted as service connected.
- Granted
The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for intermittent exotropia due to new and material evidence provided since the last denial in July 1995. The VA examiner concluded that the veteran's eye disability was a natural progression of his pre-service condition, but also noted that recent physical examination showed continued presence of eye problems including exotropia.
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