The Board found that the severance of special monthly compensation based on anatomical loss was proper, and remanded several issues related to service connection for bilateral mastectomy with lymph node removal and postoperative residuals of gynecomastia.
The deciding factor: The probative evidence demonstrated clear and unmistakable error in the prior grant of special monthly compensation based on anatomical loss due to the Veteran not meeting the criteria under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(k).
- Claimed conditions
- Postoperative residuals of bilateral gynecomastia (painful/unstable), Postoperative residuals of bilateral mastectomy with lymph node removal, Chronic chest pain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 10, 2024
- Citation
- A24064898
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,188 · Granted: 23% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A24064898.
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 Board has granted service connection for right wrist disability and chronic chest pain, finding that both conditions are etiologically related to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for TMJ, chronic chest pain, bilateral elbow disability, and bilateral ankle disability due to inadequate examinations and incomplete records.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection was denied. The claim for PTSD was granted with a rating of 30 percent, but the request for an increase to 50 percent was denied. Service connection for left ear hearing loss was granted, while service connection for right ear hearing loss and chest pain were denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination to assess his cervical spine, lumbar spine, and chest pain disabilities, as well as an examination of his left wrist disability.
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