The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The effective date for PTSD remains September 25, 2015 due to lack of new and material evidence within a year of the initial denial. The issues regarding chronic fatigue, sleep disorder, headaches, and joint pain are remanded for further evaluation.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claims for service connection on these issues have been previously denied or not addressed in prior decisions, necessitating further review to determine if new evidence supports reopening the claims.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"tinnitus"}, {"condition_name":"posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)"}, {"condition_name":"chronic fatigue"}, {"condition_name":"sleep disorder, to include sleep apnea"}, {"condition_name":"headaches"}, {"condition_name":"joint pains"}
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 4, 2019
- Citation
- 19142537
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
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.