The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for spasmodic dysphonia is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error in the AOJ's failure to provide the correct VA examination necessary to properly apply the correct diagnostic code for his service-connected disability.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that the May 2024 and December 2024 VA examination reports regarding the Veteran's spasmodic dysphonia are inadequate for rating purposes due to their failure to contain any information relevant for applying Diagnostic Codes 6519-6516.
- Claimed conditions
- Spasmodic dysphonia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 19, 2026
- Citation
- A26015054
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A26015054.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 30 percent for spasmodic dysphonia is granted. The issue of TDIU has been remanded due to lack of clarity in the employment and education history.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and a need for a contemporaneous VA examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions and a need for further examination regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for spasmodic dysphonia.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's spasmodic dysphonia existed prior to service and was aggravated by service. The claim will be reviewed again with proper legal standards applied.
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