The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in duty to assist and for clarification of the nature and etiology of the Veteran's Arnold Chiari malformation.
The deciding factor: The decision is based on the need to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including obtaining private treatment records and providing an adequate VA examination and medical opinion regarding the classification of the disability as a defect or disease process and its relationship to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Arnold Chiari malformation
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 7, 2023
- Citation
- A23031223
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 A23031223.
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 Board has remanded the claims for additional development to address whether the Veteran's acquired neurological disorder, including Arnold Chiari malformation and syringomyelia, is related to his service. The muscle inflammation claim due to Persian Gulf service is also being remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's Chiari malformation and related conditions are remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding the diagnosis and etiology of her condition.,The Veteran's migraines, right foot condition, and other secondary service connection claims are also remanded for additional development.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's Arnold Chiari malformation is a congenital defect and not a compensable disability, thus denying service connection.
- 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.
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