The Veteran's nephrolithiasis (kidney stones), left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, right wrist joint pain, left knee chondromalacia of patella, right knee chondromalacia of patella, and left ankle sprain are granted service connection. The Veteran's hypertension is also granted service connection. However, the issues of higher initial ratings for chronic fatigue syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease, non-migraine headaches, PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol abuse disorder, TDIU prior to June 3, 2013, and special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria prior to June 3, 2013 are remanded.
The deciding factor: The issues of higher initial ratings for chronic fatigue syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease, non-migraine headaches, PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol abuse disorder, TDIU prior to June 3, 2013, and special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria prior to June 3, 2013 are remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the issues of service connection for various conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- nephrolithiasis (claimed as kidney stones), chronic fatigue syndrome, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, right wrist joint pain, left knee chondromalacia of patella, right knee chondromalacia of patella, left ankle sprain, hypertension
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 14, 2019
- Citation
- 19118566
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,188 · Granted: 23% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19118566.
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 claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to conflicting opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and skin disabilities related to herbicide exposure.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
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