The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to allegations of worsening symptoms for his service-connected abdominal wound reconstruction and paralysis of the left vocal cord. He needs updated VA examinations to determine current disability ratings.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has alleged that his service-connected conditions have worsened since previous evaluations, necessitating further examination and rating determinations.
- Claimed conditions
- cardiovascular complications, abdominal wound reconstruction, paralysis of left vocal cord
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 26, 2018
- Citation
- 18138808
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 18138808.
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.
- Partly granted
The veteran's death is service-connected due to cardiovascular complications, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. However, the surviving spouse is not entitled to DIC benefits.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case to the RO/AMC for de novo adjudication of the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, for the purpose of accrued benefits. The appellant and her representative will be provided a supplemental statement of the case if their appeal is not granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination regarding his left vocal cord disability and an initial rating decision on agoraphobia and history of anxiety. The issues include service connection for paralysis of the left vocal cord as secondary to gastroesophageal reflux disease with Barrett's esophagus, and an increased rating for agoraphobia and history of anxiety.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an ocular disability and denied service connection for cardiovascular complications (including coronary artery disease and hypertension) as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type 2. The claim is being remanded for further development regarding the relationship between the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and his cardiovascular disabilities.
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