The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection were partially denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s psychiatric disabilities are at worst manifest by symptoms most comparable to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, resulting in a 70% rating. The issues of residuals of frostbite and GERD service connection, as well as the rating for hypertrophic gastritis post-operative removal of sigmoid colon polyps and colon polyps, were remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities are at worst manifest by symptoms most comparable to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, resulting in a 70% rating. The issues of residuals of frostbite and GERD service connection, as well as the rating for hypertrophic gastritis post-operative removal of sigmoid colon polyps and colon polyps, were remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.
- Claimed conditions
- schizoaffective disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), residuals of frostbite, GERD
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 9, 2018
- Citation
- 18149599
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 18149599.
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 has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining in-service psychiatric treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA opinion and a need for further examination.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD is granted, and the appeal to restore a 40% rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc other than IVDS, central canal stenosis, and scoliosis prior to June 1, 2024 is dismissed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error, specifically failing to obtain an opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his accidental drowning death.
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