The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for service connection are remanded due to a failure to provide adequate VA examinations and opinions, particularly regarding exposure to burn pits and other toxins (BPOTs) during his service in the Persian Gulf.
The deciding factor: VA did not afford the appellant with necessary VA examinations or toxic risk exposure activity (TERA) opinions as required by law and regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- Left leg disability, Right leg disability, Venous disability, Back cyst
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 20, 2026
- Citation
- A26015745
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 A26015745.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's right foot condition, including pain and functional limitation, is related to service. The Veteran's right leg disability did not have an onset in service or manifest within a year of service, nor is it otherwise related to service or a service-connected disability. The Veteran's left leg disability also did not have an onset in service or manifest within a year of service, nor is it otherwise related to service or a service-connected disability.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his right leg and right ankle disabilities, as well as a compensable rating for his left knee scar, were denied. The Board found that the Veteran failed to cooperate with scheduled VA examinations without providing good cause.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the VHA decision denying PCAFC benefits was inadequate due to insufficient discussion of relevant medical evidence and remanded for further action.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for right and left leg disabilities, as well as a left ankle disability, all secondary to bilateral hip, knee, and right ankle disabilities. The case is being returned for additional development.
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