When you receive a decision from the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA), it can feel like you’ve reached the final step in your journey—but that’s not always the case. Sometimes, instead of an approval or denial, the Board issues a remand.
If you’ve seen this word in your appeal update and aren’t sure what it means, you’re not alone. A VA remand has surprised and confused many veterans, but it’s a common part of the appeals process, and understanding it can help you stay proactive in getting your VA claim approved.
The good news is that a remand doesn’t mean the Board has denied your claim. In fact, in many situations, it can be a sign that your claim is still alive and under serious consideration. It simply means the Board needs more information before it can make a final ruling. So while it may seem like a delay—and in some cases, it is—it also means the VA isn’t ready to shut the door on your case.
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What Is a VA Remand and Why Does It Happen?
A remand occurs when the BVA sends your case back to a lower level of the VA, usually a regional office or the Appeals Management Office (AMO), for additional development or clarification. This might involve gathering more evidence, scheduling another Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam, or correcting a procedural error. The remand is often accompanied by specific instructions for what needs to be done before the Board can revisit your claim.
You might receive a remand if the Board determines that the evidence currently in your file isn’t strong enough to make a ruling. For example, if you’re appealing a rating for PTSD and your most recent C&P exam is several years old, the Board may request a new exam to get an updated view of your condition. Or perhaps your private medical records mention a secondary condition that hasn’t yet been evaluated—if so, they may ask the VA to explore that before making a final decision.
Remands are not rare. In fact, a large portion of Board decisions are remanded at least once. (In 2023, the BVA had an overall remand rate exceeding 33%.) A remand can ultimately strengthen your case if it results in your providing more or better evidence in line with what the VA wants to see.
What Happens After a VA Remand Is Issued?
Once your claim is remanded, it returns to a lower VA office where the requested development tasks are carried out. You’ll often receive a letter outlining what’s being done and what’s required. For example, you may be asked to submit military service records, more complete medical evidence, or a more current C&P exam. From this point, the VA will carry out the remand instructions as laid out by the Board.
After those tasks are completed, the VA will review the new information and either grant your claim, deny it, or return it to the Board for a final decision. In many cases, your claim is returned to the Board because they retain jurisdiction over the appeal. This back-and-forth can be frustrating, but it’s an effort to make sure every possible basis for approval is reviewed before a final call is made.
If your claim is granted at the regional level after remand, that’s great news. But if it goes back to the Board, expect another waiting period. The good news is that a remanded claim typically receives priority over new appeals, so your place in line at the Board is retained and won’t reset.
How Long Does a Remanded Claim Take?
There’s no fixed timeline for a remand, and this uncertainty can be one of the most frustrating parts of the process. However, most remanded claims take anywhere from 90 days to over a year, depending on the complexity of the tasks assigned, how many conditions are being reviewed, and how backlogged the regional office is.
For example, if you’re remanded for a single C&P exam, and you’re able to complete it quickly, your claim might move forward in just a few months. But if multiple records are being requested—especially from outside the VA—or if you’re dealing with more than one condition, the remand process can drag out much longer.
The best thing you can do during this time is stay informed. Check your VA.gov claim status regularly and respond quickly if the VA reaches out for new information or documents. The faster you reply, the less likely your file is to stall in the system.
What You Should Do When You Receive a Remand
If your appeal has been remanded, read the decision letter carefully. This document outlines exactly what the Board is asking for, and you’ll want to make sure nothing gets overlooked. Even though the VA is responsible for fulfilling those requests, there are often things you can do to speed up the process and strengthen your position.
For instance, if the Board calls for a new medical opinion or further clarification about your service connection, you can get ahead by speaking with your healthcare provider or seeking a nexus letter from a qualified medical expert. If additional medical records are needed, contact the relevant doctors or hospitals right away to avoid delays.
You should also document any changes in your condition while you wait. If your symptoms worsen or you start new treatments, keep a record. This information may be valuable if you undergo another C&P exam or if your case returns to the Board for final review.
When Remands Can Be a Good Thing
While nobody likes delays, you should view a remand as an opportunity. The Board is saying, “We’re not ready to deny this—we just need more information.” That’s a much better place to be than a final denial, which can require starting a new appeal or submitting a supplemental claim.
A remand can also open the door to additional benefits. For example, if the VA is re-evaluating your claim and discovers secondary conditions or evidence supporting a higher rating, you might end up with greater compensation than you originally asked for. This happens more often than you’d think, especially when new evidence is added during the remand phase.
Imagine you’ve appealed a 10% rating for lumbar spine issues, believing your range of motion is more limited than the VA reported. The Board reviews your case and notices that your last C&P exam was over two years ago, and the results seem inconsistent with your medical records. Rather than issue a final denial, the Board remands your case for a new exam.
You go in for a follow-up exam, this time with updated symptoms and documentation from a physical therapist. The examiner notes more restricted motion and confirms flare-ups that weren’t previously recorded. With this new evidence, the VA increases your rating to 30% before the claim even goes back to the Board. In this case, the remand helped you get the outcome you truly deserved.
What Happens After the Remand Is Resolved
Once the VA has completed the remand tasks, your case either gets decided at the local level or sent back to the Board. If it returns to the Board, they will re-review your claim with all the new evidence included. This process is usually quicker than the original review, especially if all the instructions have been followed properly.
When the Board reaches its decision, you’ll receive a final decision letter stating whether your claim has been granted, denied, or partially granted. If granted, you’ll be awarded your rating and any applicable back pay. If denied, you’ll still have appeal options, but hopefully, the remand gave your claim the boost it needed.
Is There Any Way to Move Your Claim Along Faster?
If you are in remand from a full appeal to the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA), you may be able to speed up the process by submitting your own evidence through a supplemental claim. A supplemental claim is viewed by many as a “cheat code” for the VA claims process, because it can take significantly less time than a formal appeal (often just four to six months).
A supplemental claim allows you to submit new evidence to the VA in light of a previous decision about your disability claim. For example, you could submit a nexus letter establishing a clear service connection between your disability and your military service, a personal statement, new medical records showing a worsening of your condition or a new diagnosis, military service records that clarify your service connection, etc.
Talk to a veterans benefits advocate to see if it would be advantageous for you to file a supplemental claim after receiving a remand.
Veterans Claim Assistance is Available
If you’re wondering how to win a VA disability claim appeal and appropriately respond to remands, VA Claims Academy can teach you to think like a VA rater. We can help you provide the evidence the VA wants to see and use the right processes to expedite a successful claim as quickly as possible.