The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are inextricably intertwined with his claims for workers' compensation and must be remanded to obtain relevant records. Additionally, he needs medical examinations or opinions regarding his lumbar spine disability, left hip and shoulder disabilities, and Guillain-Barre syndrome.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that the issues of service connection are inextricably intertwined with the Veteran's claims for workers' compensation benefits and must be remanded to obtain relevant records. Additionally, he needs medical examinations or opinions regarding his lumbar spine disability, left hip and shoulder disabilities, and Guillain-Barre syndrome.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, right buttock disability, bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, left hip disability, left shoulder disability, groin muscle disability, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity, carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity, Guillain-Barre syndrome, neurological disability of the left lower extremity, neurological disability of the left upper extremity (distinct from carpal tunnel syndrome), neurological disability of the right lower extremity, neurological disability of the right upper extremity (distinct from carpal tunnel syndrome), mood disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 31, 2018
- Citation
- 18161254
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 18161254.
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 appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no competent evidence to support a finding that his current condition began in or as a result of service.
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