The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a social survey and a VA examination to assess his ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The case is being remanded because the current evidence does not adequately discuss the impact of all of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his capacity to interact with others and function in an industrial setting, necessitating further evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Anatomical loss of the left eye, Left hand shell fragment wound, Left maxillary zygomatic area fracture with mild disfigurement, Epiphora associated with the loss of his left eye, Tinnitus, Unfavorable ankylosis of the left middle finger, Hearing loss, Left eye scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 18, 2013
- Citation
- 1309015
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 1309015.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since March 23, 2004. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted prior to February 15, 2005 due to the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his social and occupational functioning.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
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