The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to incomplete examinations, lack of clear and unmistakable evidence regarding preexisting conditions, and need for additional medical opinions. The issues include bilateral gynecomastia, a chest scar related to bilateral gynecomastia, a right shoulder disability, heart disability, hypertension, and TDIU.
The deciding factor: The Board found the VA examinations inadequate and remanded for further clarification on whether preexisting conditions were aggravated by service-connected disabilities or clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral gynecomastia, heart disability, right shoulder disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 4, 2019
- Citation
- 19176990
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 Board granted service connection for tinnitus and a right hip disability, and granted a 30 percent rating for ureterolithiasis. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD was denied, while other claims were remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions of the left and right hands, shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees, ankles, and foot, but granted service connection for a right knee disability and fibromyalgia. The decision was based on medical evidence that did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions and a TDIU, as the evidence did not support a finding that any of these disabilities were related to the Veteran's military service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a heart disability as the evidence did not support that it began during active service or was related to an in-service injury.
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