The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and flouroquinolone toxicity are remanded due to the need for medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for flouroquinolone toxicity is also remanded as VA treatment records prior to October 2003 and from May 2017 to present are needed, along with authorization for Dr. Nelson and Dr. Oppenheim’s records.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for cirrhosis of the liver and hepatitis C due to drug and alcohol dependency are remanded as VA medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions are required.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for drug and alcohol dependency is also remanded as a VA psychiatrist’s opinion on its secondary relationship to PTSD, low back disability, and flouroquinolone toxicity is needed.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent prior to June 24, 2010, and in excess of 20 percent as of June 24, 2010, for a low back disability is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.
The deciding factor: The claims are being remanded because medical opinions are needed regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's fibromyalgia, flouroquinolone toxicity, cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis C, and drug and alcohol dependency.,The claims are being remanded due to the need for VA treatment records prior to October 2003 and from May 2017 to present, as well as authorization for Dr. Nelson and Dr. Oppenheim’s records.,The claims are being remanded because medical opinions are needed regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's cirrhosis of the liver and hepatitis C due to drug and alcohol dependency.,The claims are being remanded due to the need for a VA psychiatrist’s opinion on whether the Veteran's drug and alcohol dependency is secondary to PTSD, low back disability, or flouroquinolone toxicity.,The claims are being remanded because a VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's low back disability.
- Claimed conditions
- low back disability, fibromyalgia, cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis C
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 5, 2018
- Citation
- 18116108
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 18116108.
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 migraines was reopened due to new evidence. Service connection is granted for painful scars, but the rating assigned remains at 10 percent. The claims for fibromyalgia and bilateral shoulder disability are denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has expanded the scope of the claim for major depression to encompass any mental health disability raised by the record and has remanded six issues for additional development.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, fibromyalgia, and vertigo. The decision found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.
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