The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected conditions, including peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, low back disability, left knee disability, and heart disability. The Board has determined that additional development is needed for these claims due to incomplete medical opinions.
The deciding factor: Incomplete VA medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current diagnoses are secondary to his service-connected conditions have been provided.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Chest Scar"}, {"condition_name":"Nervous System Disorder (to include Parkinson's Disease)"}, {"condition_name":"Peripheral Neuropathy of the Bilateral Upper Extremities (BUE)"}, {"condition_name":"Peripheral Neuropathy of the Bilateral Lower Extremities (BLE)"}, {"condition_name":"Lumbar Spine Degenerative Joint Disease Status Post Laminectomy and Discectomy (Low Back Disability)"}, {"condition_name":"Patellofemoral Syndrome with Degenerative Joint Disease of the Left Knee (Left Knee Disability)"}, {"condition_name":"Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (Heart Disability)"}
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 21, 2019
- Citation
- 19187882
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 right lower extremity sciatica associated with the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine strain, but remanded claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and sleep apnea.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his lung cancer was related to his service-connected melanoma.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for anxiety but denied it for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's sleep apnea was less likely than not related to his active service or service-connected acquired psychiatric condition.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches as proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus.
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.