The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development as the prior examination report was inadequate and did not address the impact of his service-connected disabilities in combination on his employability.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner failed to provide a complete rationale for their opinions concerning the impact of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his employability, specifically failing to consider the combined effect of multiple conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- benign prostatic hypertrophy, cervical spondylosis, degenerative disc disease with spondylosis of the lumbar spine, rheumatoid arthritis (right upper extremity associated with cervical spondylosis), left knee degenerative joint disease and patellofemoral dysfunction, right shoulder impingement syndrome and degenerative joint disease, right eye macular degeneration, bilateral tinnitus, nummular dermatitis, L5-S1 radiculopathy of the right lower extremity associated with degenerative disc disease with spondylosis of the lumbar spine, L5-S1 radiculopathy of the left lower extremity associated with degenerative disc disease with spondylosis of the lumbar spine, pes planus of the right foot, cataracts, bilateral maxillary sinusitis, internal hemorrhoids, a surgical scar of the right neck, a surgical scar of the right knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 16, 2013
- Citation
- 1326157
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 1326157.
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 left toe amputation, triple bypass surgery, blockage in legs, and bilateral tinnitus due to procedural errors and the need for additional medical opinions regarding potential exposure to toxins during service.
- Granted
The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder.,The Veteran's bilateral tinnitus is granted based on in-service noise exposure and current diagnosis.,The Veteran's Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is granted due to presumptive service connection for exposure at Fort McClellan, Alabama.,The Veteran's status post total shoulder replacement, to include degenerative arthritis, is granted as incurred in service.,The Veteran's scar, residual right shoulder surgery, is granted as it is related to his now service-connected status post total shoulder replacement.
- Denied
The Veteran's tinnitus and hearing loss claims are denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,The Veteran's high cholesterol, dementia, stroke, prostate cancer, cataracts, diabetes, hypertension, CHF, and myocardial infarction claims are denied due to lack of service connection evidence or insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the disabilities and active duty service.,The Veteran was exposed to toxins during his military service but there is no evidence linking these exposures to any of the claimed conditions.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and normocytic anemia as secondary to service-connected chronic hemorrhoids. The claim of entitlement to service connection for left inguinal hernia is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
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