The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment, without considering his age and nonservice-connected conditions.
The deciding factor: VA failed to provide an opinion regarding the combined effect of all service-connected disabilities on the Veteran's employability.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, ischemic heart disease, degenerative joint disease of the left ankle, degenerative joint disease of the right ankle, tinnitus, residuals of shell fragment wound to the right shoulder and axillary region with retained foreign body
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 25, 2013
- Citation
- 1309953
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 1309953.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition, including ischemic heart disease. The evidence did not support a finding of a current disability related to service.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
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