The Board has granted service connection for chronic bronchitis and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to chronic bronchitis. The claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's current psychiatric symptoms, including depression, anxiety, panic, and adjustment disorders, have not been adequately addressed in the record, necessitating further evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic bronchitis, obstructive sleep apnea, anxiety disorder, depression, panic disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 7, 2019
- Citation
- 19184626
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 service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to ensure a proper examination and etiology opinion are provided.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to a duty to assist error.
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