The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for thoracic strain, IBS, and narcolepsy are remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess their current severity.
The deciding factor: The VA examination reports from May 2014 do not reflect the current severity of the Veteran’s conditions as reported in his recent statements. Therefore, a new examination is necessary to determine the appropriate disability ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- left ankle, thoracic strain, IBS, narcolepsy
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 25, 2019
- Citation
- 19149483
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.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's effective date for the award of an 80 percent rating for narcolepsy is granted from August 11, 2015.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issue of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for narcolepsy due to seemingly contradictory findings in a January 2024 VA examination report that cannot be resolved through consideration of other evidence.
- Dismissed
The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent, effective March 18, 2021, for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was withdrawn by the Veteran prior to the Board's decision and thus is dismissed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for a neck condition, bilateral elbow condition, bilateral hip condition, bilateral ankle condition, and narcolepsy due to inadequate VA examinations and potential pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
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