The Board has remanded the claims for a VA opinion to address whether any current psychiatric diagnosis represents the present manifestation of a preexisting condition, or if it is related to service. The Veteran's obesity and hyperlipidemia are not disabilities for which VA compensation may be granted.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted due to his obesity and hyperlipidemia being non-disabilities under VA regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- mental condition (also claimed as defective attitude, unsuitable apathy, unspecified schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, unspecified), morbid obesity, hyperlipidemia
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 15, 2019
- Citation
- 19178365
Veterans Law Judge
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19178365.
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.
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The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further medical examination and opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and his service, including gas chamber training, as well as any aggravation of the condition by other service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that the Veteran meets the basic medical eligibility criteria for PCAFC benefits due to his need for personal care services based on symptoms or residuals of neurological or other impairment or injury. However, further clinical evaluation is needed to determine if participation in the program is in the Veteran's best interest.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to errors in developing evidence related to possible ionizing radiation exposure and TERA participation. The claim will be reconsidered with proper development of this information.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic anxiety disorder, which was related to service, contributed substantially to his death from a stroke caused by diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.
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