The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate compliance with prior remands and the need for a new opinion on the nature and etiology of the Veteran's Sjögren's syndrome.
The deciding factor: The clinician did not provide an adequate rationale or factually accurate information in their previous opinion, as they relied on the Veteran's diagnosis date being 2016 instead of her earlier diagnoses from 2002. The remand requires a new addendum opinion that complies with these requirements.
- Claimed conditions
- Sjögren's syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 5, 2022
- Citation
- 22000515
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 22000515.
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 Veteran's Sjögren's syndrome rating was reduced from 100% to 10%, but the Board found clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in this decision, restoring the original 100% rating effective October 1, 2010.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU, finding that her service-connected conditions did not prevent her from securing and following gainful employment.
- Denied
The Veteran's Sjögren's syndrome and leukocytoclastic vasculitis with hypergammaglobulinemic purpura of Waldenstrom were rated at 60 percent disabling, based on symptoms more nearly approximating exacerbations lasting a week or more, 2 to 3 times per year. The appeal is denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of Sjögren's syndrome, and new evidence may be needed.
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