The Board has decided to remand several claims, including those for increased ratings and service connection for somatic symptom disorder, laryngeal irritation, chronic lumbar spine strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and a genitourinary disability. The reasons are the need for new VA examinations to determine current severity of these conditions and to obtain relevant federal records.
The deciding factor: The Board found that remand is required due to the need for new VA examinations to assess the current severity of the Veteran's somatic symptom disorder, laryngeal irritation, chronic lumbar spine strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and a genitourinary disability. Additionally, there is a need to obtain relevant federal records from OPM related to the March 2016 disability determination.
- Claimed conditions
- somatic symptom disorder, laryngeal irritation, chronic lumbar spine strain
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 1, 2018
- Citation
- 18146813
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 18146813.
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 Board has granted service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis and remanded the claims of anxiety disorder, persistent depressive disorder, and somatic symptom disorder.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for somatic symptom disorder and migraines, both found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of somatic symptom disorder. The effective date for the grant of service connection for sleep apnea (OSA) was set at February 4, 2020, and a rating in excess of 50 percent for OSA is denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including insomnia disorder, anxiety, and somatic symptom disorder) and bruxism. The evidence did not support a finding of direct or secondary service connection.
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