The Veteran's appeals concerning PTSD, a mental illness other than PTSD, headaches, postoperative cyst removal residuals, erectile dysfunction, and coronary artery disease have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.
The deciding factor: Additional evidence is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran’s psychiatric disabilities, specifically his current diagnoses and their onset. An addendum opinion is required to address whether the Veteran's headaches are secondary to his psychiatric disability. Another VA examination is necessary to evaluate postoperative residuals related to the cyst removal procedure and to assess the relationship between the Veteran's erectile dysfunction and his service-connected conditions or medication.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic fatigue syndrome, temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), right elbow disability, left elbow disability, postoperative cyst removal residuals, erectile dysfunction, coronary artery disease
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 15, 2018
- Citation
- 18126838
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 18126838.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- 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.
- Granted
The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, endometriosis, thyroid condition, and chronic fatigue syndrome due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial. The claims are now considered on their merits.
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