The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD with anxiety and depression), sleep apnea, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type 2, and erectile dysfunction. The issues of service connection for these conditions are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran did not have a chronic low back disorder in service or within one year after discharge from service, and thus could not establish service connection for his lumbar spine disorder. For the other issues, the Board noted insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"lumbar spine disorder","diagnosis_date":null,"current_diagnosis":"degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine"}, {"condition_name":"bilateral hearing loss","diagnosis_date":"1992-11-01","current_diagnosis":null}, {"condition_name":"tinnitus","diagnosis_date":"1992-11-01","current_diagnosis":null}, {"condition_name":"acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD with anxiety and depression)","diagnosis_date":null,"current_diagnosis":null}, {"condition_name":"sleep apnea","diagnosis_date":null,"current_diagnosis":null}, {"condition_name":"hypertension","diagnosis_date":null,"current_diagnosis":null}, {"condition_name":"diabetes mellitus, type 2","diagnosis_date":null,"current_diagnosis":null}, {"condition_name":"erectile dysfunction","diagnosis_date":null,"current_diagnosis":null}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 28, 2019
- Citation
- 19150619
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 service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for myasthenia gravis based on the Veteran's exposure to hazardous substances during his military service.
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