The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the PACT Act requiring a TERA-specific examination and secondary service connection evaluations.
The deciding factor: The PACT Act requires VA to schedule an examination and request a medical opinion for toxic-exposed Veterans with non-presumptive diseases, including those related to Camp Lejeune exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, glaucoma, rash on neck, chest and calves (claimed as skin condition), headaches, high blood pressure, vertigo, sleep apnea, ischemic heart disease (claimed as heart valves leaking), neurological behaviors (anxiety, major depression also claimed as mental health condition), sinus condition, diabetes, back condition, left shoulder surgery, left hand condition, left elbow condition, neck condition
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Camp Lejeune water
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 2, 2026
- Citation
- A26030377
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 A26030377.
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 Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- 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.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
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