The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding her exposure to herbicide agents and other chemicals at Fort McClellan, Alabama. The AOJ is instructed to verify these exposures and then decide the claims based on the new information.
The deciding factor: The AOJ failed to verify the Veteran's reported exposure to herbicide agents and other hazardous materials during service at Fort McClellan, which is required for her claims of service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- type II diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy of the upper right extremity, diabetic neuropathy of the lower right extremity, diabetic neuropathy of the upper left extremity, diabetic neuropathy of the lower left extremity, diabetic retinopathy, Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 4, 2023
- Citation
- 23025875
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 23025875.
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 claim for service connection for migraines was reopened due to new evidence. Service connection is granted for painful scars, but the rating assigned remains at 10 percent. The claims for fibromyalgia and bilateral shoulder disability are denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis disability rating is being remanded for additional development due to significant weight loss and anemia.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, fibromyalgia, and vertigo. The decision found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.
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