The Veteran's GERD is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected condition.,The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is being remanded due to the need for a supplemental medical opinion considering in-service exposures and ongoing symptoms.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is being remanded as there may be an issue with verifying exposure to herbicide agents during service. The AOJ should verify whether the USS Coral Sea was within the 12-nautical-mile territorial sea of Vietnam while the Veteran was aboard.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is being remanded for a supplemental medical opinion considering his asserted in-service exposure to herbicide agents.,The Veteran's skin disability is being remanded for a supplemental medical opinion addressing whether it is related to bare-skin exposure to jet fuel during service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and a mood disorder) is being remanded as there may be issues with verifying in-service stressors. The AOJ should attempt to corroborate the Veteran's reported stressors involving witnessing the death of a fellow serviceman aboard the USS Coral Sea during the '1967 cruise'.,The Veteran's sleep apnea, hypertension, hiatal hernia, and erectile dysfunction are being remanded as secondary to his claimed acquired psychiatric disorder. The AOJ should attempt to obtain VA treatment records from 1970-2002 for these claims.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for updated VA audiological testing.,The Veteran's ear infection disability is being remanded as there may be issues with obtaining relevant private treatment records.
The deciding factor: GERD severity needs to be reassessed through a VA examination.,Chronic sinusitis requires further medical opinion considering in-service exposures and ongoing symptoms.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is being remanded due to potential issues with verifying herbicide agent exposure during service.,Peripheral neuropathy requires a supplemental medical opinion addressing the Veteran's asserted in-service exposure to herbicide agents.,Skin disability needs a supplemental medical opinion regarding whether it is related to bare-skin exposure to jet fuel during service.,Acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and a mood disorder) requires further development due to potential issues with verifying in-service stressors.,Sleep apnea, hypertension, hiatal hernia, and erectile dysfunction are secondary to the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder. The AOJ should attempt to obtain VA treatment records from 1970-2002 for these claims.,Bilateral hearing loss requires updated VA audiological testing.,Ear infection disability needs to be verified through obtaining relevant private treatment records.
- Claimed conditions
- gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), chronic sinusitis, diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy, skin disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and a mood disorder), sleep apnea, hypertension, hiatal hernia, erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, ear infection
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 20, 2019
- Citation
- 19148420
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.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 21, 2021, for the grant of service connection for hypertension.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to ensure a proper examination and etiology opinion are provided.
- 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 his appeals for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and pernicious anemia, and the Board dismissed both appeals.
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