The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that the current evidence is insufficient to determine the severity of the Veteran’s psychiatric disability, as well as the nature and etiology of his claimed bilateral ankle disorders, knee disorders, hand numbness, thoracic spine disorder, and lumbar spine disorder. Therefore, remand for further examination is necessary.
- Claimed conditions
- Acute Stress Disorder, Bilateral Ankle Disorders, Bilateral Knee Disorders, Bilateral Hand Numbness, Thoracic Spine Disorder, Lumbar Spine Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 6, 2019
- Citation
- 19191800
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 19191800.
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 an effective date of February 12, 2013 for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on statutory housebound criteria.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded issues related to service connection for knee and lumbar spine disorders.
- Granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates of February 1, 2021, for the awards of service connection and secondary service connection for various disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an initial rating greater than 70 percent for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, granted TDIU from January 8, 2020 to June 19, 2022, and granted DEA benefits effective the same date.
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