The veteran's claims for increased ratings and secondary service connection are being remanded for further development.,The veteran's claim for secondary service connection for gastric bypass surgery is being referred to the RO for initial consideration.,The veteran's right ankle disability and right middle toe fracture residuals are being examined by a VA orthopedic examiner. The examiner will determine if these disabilities are related to his left ankle disorder.,The veteran's autoimmune hepatitis claim is being examined by a VA physician who will determine whether it is at least as likely as not caused or worsened by his service-connected celiac sprue and the medications prescribed for that condition.,The veteran's sleep apnea claim is being examined by a VA physician who will determine if it is at least as likely as not caused or worsened by his service-connected celiac sprue and the medications prescribed for that condition.,The veteran's right middle toe fracture residuals are being examined by a VA orthopedic examiner. The examiner will provide an opinion on whether this disability was caused or chronically worsened by his left ankle disorder.
The deciding factor: Further development is needed to determine the nature and severity of the veteran's disabilities, as well as their relationship to service-connected conditions.,The RO needs to ensure that all evidence has been obtained for the secondary service connection claim for gastric bypass surgery.,An orthopedic examination is required to assess whether the right ankle disability and right middle toe fracture residuals are related to the left ankle disorder.,A VA physician must determine if the veteran's autoimmune hepatitis is caused or worsened by his service-connected celiac sprue and the medications prescribed for that condition.,A VA physician needs to evaluate the veteran's sleep apnea and determine whether it is at least as likely as not caused or worsened by his service-connected celiac sprue and the medications prescribed for that condition.,An orthopedic examination is needed to assess if the right middle toe fracture residuals were caused or chronically worsened by the left ankle disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- post-operative residuals of left ankle fracture with ligament laxity, post-operative residuals of left elbow ganglion cyst removal, right middle toe fracture residuals, autoimmune hepatitis
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 22, 2005
- Citation
- 0504800
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0504800.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted service connection for autoimmune hepatitis and rheumatoid arthritis, both found to be related to the Veteran's in-service toxic exposures at Camp Lejeune.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The appeal for service connection for depression was dismissed as it is subsumed by the already service-connected PTSD. A 50 percent rating for cluster headaches was granted, and a higher rating for autoimmune hepatitis was denied.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for autoimmune hepatitis, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. The appeal regarding an initial compensable evaluation for hypertension was dismissed.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's cause of death, finding that her autoimmune hepatitis was related to her in-service Camp Lejeune exposures.
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