The Veteran's request for clothing allowances based on the use of back and left knee braces is remanded due to missing VA treatment records and prosthetic records.
The deciding factor: Missing medical evidence prevents a determination on the merits of the claim.
- Claimed conditions
- Back Brace, Left Knee Brace
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 31, 2022
- Citation
- 22019088
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 22019088.
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 back brace caused wear and tear to his shirts, which is sufficient evidence for a clothing allowance in 2020.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing relevant documents from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The AOJ needs to reconstruct the record and associate all pertinent records with the electronic claims file.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's clothing allowance claims for use of a back brace, bilateral ankle braces, right knee brace, shoe inserts (orthotics), and topical cream due to insufficient evidence regarding the types of devices used and their impact on clothing. The AOJ is instructed to seek clarification from the Veteran and obtain relevant documentation.
- Denied
The Veteran's back brace is not considered to cause wear and tear on his clothing, thus he does not qualify for a clothing allowance in the 2017 calendar year.
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