The Veteran's daughter seeks recognition as his child for purposes of entitlement to DIC benefits due to permanent incapacity for self-support prior to the age of 18. The appellant submitted medical records and statements describing her disability, but VA did not provide an extension to obtain additional private treatment records. The Board finds this a procedural error and remands the case.
The deciding factor: VA failed to provide the appellant with an opportunity to submit necessary private medical records that could support her claim for recognition as the Veteran's child for purposes of DIC benefits.
- Claimed conditions
- ankylosing spondylitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 15, 2026
- Citation
- A26035181
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 A26035181.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, including retrolisthesis of L3 over L4 and ankylosing spondylitis (claimed as low back condition) has been dismissed due to withdrawal by the appellant.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis affecting his lumbar spine is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and treatment records.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected lumbar sprain with ankylosing spondylitis, cervical spine strain, and tension headaches have rendered her unable to obtain or maintain a substantially gainful occupation consistent with her education and work history prior to August 30, 2022.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the eligibility for PCAFC should be reconsidered due to a lack of sufficient reasoning in the previous decision. The case is being remanded to provide a more detailed and thoroughly explained medical opinion regarding the Veteran's need for personal care services, supervision or protection, and regular extensive instruction.
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