The Board remands the claims for service connection and increased ratings due to outstanding records, TERA compliance, and inadequate VA examinations.
The deciding factor: Remand is necessary to obtain additional evidence and ensure a proper medical evaluation regarding the Veteran's claimed disabilities related to toxic exposure risk activities during service.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchitis, bronchiectasis, reactive airway disease, rhinitis, gastrointestinal condition, stomach condition, bladder condition, groin condition, vertigo, erectile dysfunction, rheumatoid arthritis (neck, back, knees), fallen arches, of the feet, asthma, dermatitis to include hair loss (claimed as skin rash), temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), right to include fracture, right mandible
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 11, 2025
- Citation
- A25022342
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Granted
The Veteran was granted a 70 percent disability rating for unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder with major depressive disorder, recurrent, and alcohol use disorder in early remission, as well as TDIU due to asthma and SMC at the housebound rate.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma and remanded claims for insomnia and sleep apnea. Other conditions were denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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