The Board remands the claims for a VA examination to determine the current severity of the service-connected scars and to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of various disabilities, including left hand, foot, knee, right hand, ankle, high blood pressure, head injury, depression, and sleep apnea.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that there are pre-decisional errors in not obtaining VA examinations for the service-connected scars and to determine the nature and etiology of various disabilities due to a lack of current diagnoses or evidence linking them to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Residual scars of facial laceration, Left hand disability, Left foot disability, Left knee osteoarthritis, Head injury to include headaches, Right knee disability, Right hand disability, Right ankle disability, Left ankle disability, High blood pressure, Depression, Sleep apnea
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 1, 2025
- Citation
- A25040280
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 granted service connection for chronic headaches, CFS, dermatosis, bilateral RLS, a lumbar spine disability, and sleep apnea but denied a compensable evaluation for allergic rhinitis.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple myeloma, back disability (secondary to multiple myeloma), and depression, with an effective date of January 26, 2021. The decision also remanded claims related to breast cancer, DEA benefits, and initial ratings.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a low back disability, residuals of a right foot injury, sinusitis, shortness of breath, allergic rhinitis, and sleep apnea as there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Denied
The veteran's bad conduct discharge precludes eligibility for VA benefits, including compensation and healthcare.
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.