The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for herpes simplex virus is remanded due to the inadequacy of the October 2018 VA examination. A new examination is needed to assess the current severity and manifestations of the condition, including its functional impact on daily life.
The deciding factor: The examiner did not consider all relevant evidence of record, such as the Veteran's statements about his use of immunosuppressive drugs and frequent outbreaks, which could affect the assessment of his herpes simplex virus condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Herpes Simplex Virus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 18, 2019
- Citation
- 19194818
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 19194818.
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.
- Denied
The Board found no evidence of a causal link between the veteran's herpes simplex virus and VA treatment, specifically a blood transfusion in conjunction with his surgery. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was denied.
- Granted
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
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