The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding relevant VA treatment records and a need for a clarifying opinion regarding the skin disability claim.
The deciding factor: A pre-decisional duty-to-assist error was made as relevant VA treatment records were not associated with the claims file, and a clarifying opinion is needed for the skin disability claim.
- Claimed conditions
- right knee disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as short term memory loss, respiratory disability, claimed as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, skin disability, claimed as rash
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 16, 2025
- Citation
- A25052619
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and pernicious anemia, and the Board dismissed both appeals.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, cubital tunnel syndrome, right plantar fasciitis, and a right knee disability due to the lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
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