The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension (claimed as due to herbicide exposure), cervical spine disability, and back disability. The Veteran's mental health history is complex with multiple diagnoses over time. Hypertension was not shown during active service or within one year after discharge. Service connection may still be established if in-service injuries are a contributing factor. Remand is necessary for additional medical opinions to address the nature and etiology of these conditions.
The deciding factor: The Board found that remand was necessary due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric, hypertension, cervical spine, and back disabilities. The opinions did not fully consider the Veteran's service history or provide a clear rationale for their conclusions.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), Hypertension, Cervical spine disability, Back disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 21, 2019
- Citation
- 19179933
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 an initial rating of 20 percent for right lower extremity (RLE) radiculopathy but remanded the back disability claim for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension, to include as secondary to left orchiectomy, for further development in accordance with the PACT Act.
- Partly granted
The Board granted readjudication of previously denied claims for service connection for PTSD and COPD, while remanding other issues including entitlement to service connection for an eye disorder, hypertension, tinnitus, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, TDIU, and an initial rating for PTSD.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various disabilities and denied higher ratings for several service-connected conditions.
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