The Board denied the claim for an annual clothing allowance for the 2021 calendar year due to use of a topical pain relief gel and remanded the claim for an annual clothing allowance for orthotic shoe inserts.
The deciding factor: The reasoning was based on the fact that the Veteran's use of a topical pain relief gel did not qualify as it is used for pain associated with his service-connected shin splints, which is considered an orthopedic disability and not a skin condition. The Board also found it necessary to remand the claim for orthotic shoe inserts due to insufficient reasoning from the AOJ.
- Claimed conditions
- Not specified in this decision
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 2, 2025
- Citation
- A25048539
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
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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.