The Board remands all service connection claims for further development, including VA examinations and medical opinions.
The deciding factor: Remand is necessary to ensure the Veteran receives a fair opportunity to present evidence in support of his claims, as he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations.
- Claimed conditions
- left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, neck disability, low back disability, left arm disability (biceps muscle pain), right arm disability (biceps muscle pain), left wrist disability (joint pain), right wrist disability (joint pain), left knee disability (joint pain), right knee disability (joint pain), left ankle disability (joint pain), right ankle disability (joint pain), headaches, claimed as secondary to a neck disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 22, 2025
- Citation
- A25046176
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 headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
- 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).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities to the AOJ for further development and consideration of evidence not previously considered.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an increased initial disability evaluation of headaches due to an inadequate VA examination.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.