The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to inadequate examinations and failure to notify the Veteran of VA treatment records. The claims for tinnitus, allergic rhinitis, right ankle disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, left hip disability, left knee disability, and left shoulder disability are all being remanded.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the AOJ relied on inadequate examinations to deny these service connection claims and thus there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The AOJ also failed to notify the Veteran of unavailability of VA treatment records from January to February 1990, which is required by regulation.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, allergic rhinitis, right ankle disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, left hip disability, left knee disability, left shoulder disability, tonsillitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 5, 2026
- Citation
- A26020076
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 A26020076.
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 appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess his bilateral knee and hip disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has expanded the scope of the claim to include any mental health disorder raised by the record and has remanded for additional development regarding service connection for left leg, ankle, and psychiatric disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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