The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and evaluation of his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with alcohol dependence, lumbosacral sprain, cervical sprain with degenerative changes, and neuropathic symptoms of the right lower extremity. The case will be returned to the Board after these actions are completed.
The deciding factor: The appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and evaluation of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities in order to properly assess their current severity and any potential aggravation or part-and-parcel relationships.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder with Alcohol Dependence, Lumbosacral Sprain, Cervical Sprain with Degenerative Changes, Neuropathic Symptoms of the Right Lower Extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 20, 2016
- Citation
- 1602239
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 1602239.
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 Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Board requires an adequate VA examination to clarify whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities cause him to require the aid and attendance of another.
- Granted
The Veteran was granted TDIU for the period between February 21, 2013, to May 15, 2014.,TDIU was denied for the period from May 16, 2014, to August 31, 2020. The Veteran's combined rating at this time did not meet the criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran is seeking a higher initial disability rating for his service-connected PTSD with alcohol dependence, currently rated at 50 percent. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the current severity of this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that further evidentiary development is necessary before a decision can be reached on the merits of the underlying claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD with alcohol dependence and TDIU. The case must be remanded to obtain complete treatment records from the Indianapolis VAMC, Vet Center, and schedule VA examinations.
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