The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claim for polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, but has remanded the case due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether PCOS is a congenital or developmental defect.
The deciding factor: The Board found new and material evidence in the form of recent medical records that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the Veteran's claim. However, the case was remanded as there are questions about whether PCOS constitutes a congenital disease or defect, which requires an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.
- Claimed conditions
- polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 31, 2019
- Citation
- 19159312
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 19159312.
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.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, and fatty liver as they were untimely filed. The appeal for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is pending under the Hearing docket.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, tension headaches with migraine components, and lumbosacral strain and spinal stenosis with degenerative disc disease, prevent her from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU for the entire appeal period.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for a hysterectomy as secondary to PCOS but granted a 10 percent disability rating for the Veteran's polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) because it was manifested by symptoms that required continuous treatment and were controlled by such treatment.
- Denied
The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for a total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and special monthly compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of a creative organ, as there is no legal basis to assign an earlier effective date.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.