The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the previously denied claims of service connection for various conditions, including cervical spine strain, diabetes mellitus type II (DM II), erectile dysfunction (ED), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), left ankle strain, right ankle instability, residuals of a cold injury of the hands, mental health condition, and head injuries. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development.
The deciding factor: New evidence has been submitted that is relevant to the previously denied claims of service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- cervical spine strain, diabetes mellitus type II (DM II), erectile dysfunction (ED), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), left ankle strain, right ankle instability, equinus, talar dome deficit status-post arthroscopic repair, residuals of a cold injury of the left hand, residuals of a cold injury of the right hand, mental health condition, temporomandibular joint dislocation (TMJ), head injury with headaches
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 24, 2026
- Citation
- A26016368
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 A26016368.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder disability, abdominal hernia, GERD, bilateral ankle disabilities, and bilateral foot disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during the appellant's period of active duty.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer, coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes mellitus type II (DM II), hypertension, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected DM II. The Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange during active service is presumed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis and remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic lower back pain, right knee pain, left knee pain, neck pain, and GERD.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and denied the claims for right knee disability, erectile dysfunction, GERD, sleep apnea, and hypertension. The decision is remanded for further action on these issues.
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