The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate consideration of a September 2011 medical journal article in the VA examiner's opinion. Additional development is needed, including obtaining an updated VA medical opinion.
The deciding factor: The Joint Motion found that the July 2022 VA examiner did not adequately discuss the September 2011 medical journal article in the rationale portion of the examination report.
- Claimed conditions
- ADEM
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 10, 2024
- Citation
- 24015540
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 24015540.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for ADEM, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not otherwise related to the Veteran's military service. The Board also found that ADEM was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected malaria and type II diabetes mellitus.
- Denied
The Veteran's ADEM did not manifest during service and is not otherwise related to his military service, including herbicide exposure. The Board found that the condition was not incurred in service or due to any service-connected conditions.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.