The Board remands the matter to obtain further development regarding whether the Veteran was prevented from pursuing his chosen program of education due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The deciding factor: The RO failed to properly develop the record in this appeal, specifically by not verifying whether the courses necessary for the Veteran's specific program were offered online during the relevant period and whether he could have pivoted to online instruction mid-semester after the abrupt termination of his study abroad program.
- 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 10, 2025
- Citation
- A25051058
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
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.