The Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims recently vacated and remand a Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision in favor of a veteran whose active-duty service had been overlooked by the Board. The Court ordered a remand, requiring the Board to reexamine key evidence.

In its May 17, 2023 decision, the Board incorrectly determined that the veteran lacked any active-duty service. This conclusion ignored the veteran’s DD-214, which shows honorable discharge from active duty from May 10, 1982, to August 10, 1982. The Board failed to explain why it disregarded this crucial document, leaving the veteran without a clear understanding of the decision.

VA’s attorneys agreed, and the joint motion filed by the parties emphasized that the Board must provide detailed reasons for its findings, especially when dismissing favorable evidence like a DD-214. The parties cited the Court’s binding precedent established in Allday v. Brown, stating that veterans deserve a clear explanation for any adverse decisions.

Because the Board did not provide sufficient reasoning for rejecting the veteran’s active-duty period, VA’s attorneys agreed that a remand was necessary. The Board must now properly assess the veteran’s DD-214 and provide a thorough explanation for its conclusions.

This case highlights the importance of reviewing all relevant evidence in veterans’ claims, especially official records like a DD-214. Veterans should ensure that the Board fully considers all documentation to avoid unnecessary delays in receiving their deserved benefits.