The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for VA examinations to address the etiology of his claimed disabilities, including lower back, shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee, and ankle musculoskeletal conditions, skin disability, headaches, and eye disability. The examination results will determine if these conditions are related to military service.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that due to the need for medical examinations to address the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, further development is required.
- Claimed conditions
- back disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right elbow disability, left elbow disability, right wrist disability, left wrist disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, skin disability, headaches, eye disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 3, 2019
- Citation
- 19100134
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 issue of entitlement to service connection for a back disability due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding VA's failure to provide the Veteran with a VA examination prior to the rating decision.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, cubital tunnel syndrome, right plantar fasciitis, and a right knee disability due to the lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- 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 multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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