The Board remands the claims for service connection for immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) to obtain additional evidence, including a new examination that complies with the requirements of the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins Act of 2022 (PACT Act).
The deciding factor: The opinions of record do not comply with the holding in Stewart v. Wilkie and fail to account for relevant evidence, including the Veteran's competent lay statements regarding his symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 28, 2025
- Citation
- A25038726
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and denied higher ratings for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and lumbosacral strain. However, the Board granted initial 20 percent ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy, femoral nerve, and sciatic nerve.
- Partly granted
The appeal for service connection for allergic rhinitis and lumbosacral or cervical strain was dismissed due to untimeliness, while the other issues were remanded for further evidence.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, with the exception of remanding certain issues.
- Denied
The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) as the earliest effective date assignable is August 10, 2022, based on the PACT Act.
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