The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and an opinion regarding whether her service-connected disabilities render her permanently and totally disabled.
The deciding factor: The proposed reduction of the disability rating requires further evaluation of the Veteran’s current severity of her service-connected disabilities, including a determination of whether they are total and permanent under 38 C.F.R. § 3.340 (b).
- Claimed conditions
- unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine, cervical spondyloarthropathy/spondylosis and lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease and scoliosis, hydronephrosis, asthma with recurrent bronchitis, right upper extremity ulnar neuropathy, eczema with severe pruritus, left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right knee chondromalacia patella, right ankle anterior talofibular strain residuals, dysmenorrhea, uterine fibroids, and uterine artery embolization, right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, allergic rhinitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 4, 2018
- Citation
- 18155347
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 18155347.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection for asthma and a 10 percent rating based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities were dismissed. The claim of entitlement to a compensable rating for eczema was denied, while the claim of entitlement to allergic rhinitis was not addressed as it pertained to different issues.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance, leading to the grant of SMC based on aid and attendance.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's TDIU and DEA claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence for a schedular rating, and the issues are inextricably intertwined.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete findings and failure to properly address the onset, cause, and nature of his conditions. The VA will need to schedule examinations to determine if his rhinitis and bilateral hand disabilities are related to service.
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