VA treatment injuries and § 1151 claims
VA § 1151 Claim for Vision Loss: A CAVC Case Study
JMR filed; Court action pending. My challenge to conflicting medical findings, consent-form reasoning, and postoperative instructions in a vision-loss claim.
Full briefing and sustained advocacy
After I Filed a Full CAVC Brief, VA Conceded Error
Mo Ricks explains how full briefing preceded VA’s concession of a records-development error and a Court-ordered remand for his client.
Evidence, examinations, and service connection
A Hearing-Loss Appeal Dismissed Too Soon: Securing a CAVC Remand
How Mo Ricks examined the notice history, identified an unanswered procedural issue, and secured a remand of a hearing-loss appeal dismissal.
Four Denied Conditions, Several Record Errors: A CAVC Partial-Remand Win
A case study of appellate advocacy addressing examination errors, overlooked evidence, and related claims in a multi-issue CAVC appeal.
Headaches, Back Pain, and Knee Ratings: Finding the Gaps in a Board Decision
How a detailed record review identified overlooked headache evidence, unsupported medical reasoning, and examination issues in a Board appeal.
The Missing Nexus Opinion in a Radiculopathy Denial
How Mo Ricks traced a timely private opinion, challenged the Board’s missing analysis, and secured a remand of bilateral radiculopathy claims.
Buddy Statements and Inadequate Medical Reasoning: A Back, Knee, and Ankle Appeal
How Mo Ricks challenged the Board’s reliance on medical opinions without adequate consideration of buddy statements about symptoms in service.
A Survivor’s Appeal: Challenging Flawed Medical Reasoning in a Cause-of-Death Denial
A survivor’s CAVC appeal addressing unresolved medical-opinion problems and an overlooked theory involving treatment for cancer.
A Toxic-Exposure Opinion That Did Not Address the Listed Exposures
How comparing a toxic-exposure memorandum with the medical opinion revealed an unanswered question in a diabetes and secondary-claims appeal.
Conflicting Chronic-Fatigue Examinations: Winning a Remand for a Missing Explanation
How Mo Ricks identified an unresolved conflict between VA examinations and obtained a remand of a chronic-fatigue-related claim.
Tinnitus, Shoulder Claims, and TDIU: Finding Three Different Appellate Issues
A case study of appellate arguments involving service history, the credibility of lay reports, private medical evidence, and TDIU.
An Overlooked Direct-Service-Connection Theory and Related Claims: A Partial-Remand Win
How Mo Ricks challenged an incomplete direct-service-connection analysis, an examination question, and overlooked service evidence.
Disability ratings, TDIU, and related benefits
Winning a TDIU Remand by Bringing the Veteran’s Own Statement Back Into Focus
Mo Ricks explains how record review and a legal memo exposed an overlooked statement about work limitations and supported a TDIU remand.
Carpal Tunnel Ratings: Winning a Remand for Overlooked Evidence and Unexplained Standards
Mo Ricks explains a remand involving overlooked nerve-testing evidence, functional limitations, and unexplained standards in carpal tunnel ratings.
An Earlier-Effective-Date and Digestive-Disability Appeal: Preserving the Questions VA Missed
An appeal addressing claim-pursuit history, examination objections, symptom evidence, and a TDIU question while preserving a favorable award.
Missing Surgical Records and an Examination Inconsistency in a Nerve-Rating Appeal
Mo Ricks explains a partial remand involving missing surgical records and inconsistent examination findings while preserving an existing rating.
A PTSD Rating Appeal: Requiring Analysis of the Symptoms the Veteran Actually Had
How Mo Ricks challenged a PTSD rating denial that listed evidence without adequately evaluating symptom severity, frequency, and duration.
An Adaptive-Housing Appeal: Requiring VA to Address Existing TDIU and Related Benefits
An adaptive-housing appeal requiring further consideration of an existing TDIU award, functional evidence, and a related SMC question.
Missing records and the duty to assist
Hall v. Collins: Missing Records in a CAVC Rating Appeal
Mo Ricks explains his October 14, 2026 CAVC brief challenging PTSD and COPD ratings based on missing private records and incomplete examinations.
Community-Care Records Missing From the Claims File: A COPD Remand Win
A CAVC case study explaining how record review exposed missing community-care documents and supported a duty-to-assist remand in a COPD claim.
Overlooked Social Security Records in a Psychiatric-Disability Appeal
Mo Ricks explains how overlooked Social Security record development supported a CAVC remand in a psychiatric-disability appeal.
Identified Private Providers, Missing Records: A Shoulder-and-Scar Rating Remand
Mo Ricks explains how tracing identified private providers supported a partial remand of shoulder-related and surgical-scar rating claims.
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Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. A remand requires further proceedings and does not itself award benefits.
