The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a stomach disability and right wrist disability, both of which are secondary to his service-connected somatic disorder and residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The VA is instructed to schedule the Veteran for additional examinations to determine if these disabilities were incurred in service or are otherwise etiologically related.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the previous VA examination opinions were insufficient due to their failure to consider the Veteran's in-service complaints and his testimony regarding informal treatment during service. The Board also noted that the current claims involve determining whether the Veteran's disabilities are secondary to his service-connected conditions, which requires additional medical evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- stomach disability, right wrist disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 9, 2020
- Citation
- 20001357
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 denied service connection for cervicalgia, jaw disability, stomach disability, and drug abuse as the evidence did not support a finding of an in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for another VA examination and opinion as the previous examinations were found to be inadequate.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the appeal for further examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral upper extremity disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions of the left and right hands, shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees, ankles, and foot, but granted service connection for a right knee disability and fibromyalgia. The decision was based on medical evidence that did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
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