The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and updated VA treatment records. The medical opinions regarding the etiology of his conditions are also needed.
The deciding factor: There is conflicting evidence on the etiology of the Veteran's conditions, necessitating further examination and opinion from qualified clinicians.
- Claimed conditions
- coronary artery disease, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), residuals, shell fragment wounds (SFW), right shoulder, muscle group I, II, and III, bilateral hearing loss, mitral valve disease, atriial fibrillation
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 24, 2019
- Citation
- 19105953
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 appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- 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).
- Partly granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted, while fibromyalgia, internal or external hemorrhoids, bilateral hearing loss, and neuropathy are denied.
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