The Veteran's PTSD symptoms are worsening and need to be evaluated again. The nature and etiology of his hypertension will also be clarified.,The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if his hypertension is related to service. His sleep apnea and ankle/knee/hip disorders may also require clarification regarding their relationship to service.,VA examinations are needed for the Veteran's right and left ankle disorders, right and left knee disorders, left hip disorder, and shortening of the left leg.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with these other claims and must be deferred until they are resolved.
The deciding factor: PTSD symptoms need to be reassessed due to recent reports of worsening. The nature and etiology of hypertension, sleep apnea, ankle/knee/hip disorders need clarification.,The Veteran's hypertension may have been caused by stress in Vietnam; the VA examiner did not address this theory. Sleep apnea may have started during service or shortly thereafter; the VA examiner did not provide an opinion on its relationship to PTSD. The nature and etiology of ankle/knee/hip disorders need clarification.,The Veteran's right and left ankle disorders, right and left knee disorders, left hip disorder, and shortening of the left leg may be related to service. A private medical opinion from a surgeon in December 2014 suggested this possibility.,The TDIU claim is dependent on the resolution of other claims.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Hypertension, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Left Ankle Disorder, Right Ankle Disorder, Left Knee Disorder, Right Knee Disorder, Left Hip Disorder, Shortening of the Left Leg
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 8, 2018
- Citation
- 18124468
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 18124468.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70% disability rating. The Veteran also met the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
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