The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a left knee condition, sleep apnea, hypertension, acid reflux, erectile dysfunction, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including posttraumatic stress disorder, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and nightmare disorder).,The Court vacated the Board's decision on the increased rating for cervical spine disability and left ankle disability. The issues of service connection are inextricably intertwined with PTSD.,The Court also remanded the claim for hypertension and acid reflux due to their relationship with PTSD. Additional development is needed regarding gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).,The Veteran's representative noted that he was taking issue with VA examinations provided in January 2012 and June 2015, which would encompass the rating period for the 30 percent rating.,The Court also remanded the claim for an increased rating higher than 30 percent for cervical spine disability effective from January 2, 2014. The Veteran's representative noted that he was taking issue with VA examinations provided in January 2012 and June 2015, which would encompass the rating period for the 30 percent rating.,The Court also remanded the claim for an increased rating higher than 10 percent for left ankle disability. The Veteran's representative noted that he was taking issue with VA examinations provided in January 2012 and June 2015, which would encompass the rating period for the 30 percent rating.
The deciding factor: The issues are inextricably intertwined with PTSD.,The issues are inextricably intertwined with PTSD.,The issues are inextricably intertwined with PTSD.,VA examinations provided in January 2012 and June 2015, which would encompass the rating period for the 30 percent rating, were not considered.,VA examinations provided in January 2012 and June 2015, which would encompass the rating period for the 30 percent rating, were not considered.,VA examinations provided in January 2012 and June 2015, which would encompass the rating period for the 30 percent rating, were not considered.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee condition, sleep apnea, hypertension, acid reflux, erectile dysfunction, acquired psychiatric disorder (including posttraumatic stress disorder, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and nightmare disorder)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 25, 2018
- Citation
- 18144489
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 18144489.
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 Board remands the claim for a direct service connection opinion and an adequate secondary service connection aggravation opinion.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma and remanded claims for insomnia and sleep apnea. Other conditions were denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including sinusitis, elbows condition, cervical condition, erectile dysfunction, kidney condition, sleep apnea, wrists condition, asthma, shoulders condition, ankles condition, eye condition (bilateral dry macular degeneration), peripheral vascular disease (heart condition), and rhinitis.
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