The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board's decision.,The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, skin cancer, an eye disability (including a nerve disorder affecting the right eye), PTSD, and hypertension are remanded due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.,The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is also remanded as it involves secondary service connection.,Additional records from private physicians and VA treatment facilities must be obtained in order to complete the claims process.
The deciding factor: The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a TDIU prior to the Board's decision, thus no further action is required on this matter.,There are insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran’s hearing loss and skin disabilities. Further examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service or other factors.,The claims for PTSD, anxiety, and depression secondary to skin disability need additional evidence as there are conflicting opinions on their etiology.,Records from private physicians and VA treatment facilities must be obtained in order to provide a complete picture of the Veteran's medical history.
- Claimed conditions
- skin cancer, recurrent malignant melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, seborrheic keratosis, bilateral hearing loss, eye disability (including a nerve disorder affecting the right eye), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, including depression and anxiety
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 21, 2020
- Citation
- 20004548
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 Veteran was granted a 70 percent initial disability rating for PTSD effective December 2, 2021, but the claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent was denied. The appeal also included claims for service connection and ratings for various conditions, some of which were granted while others were remanded.
- 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).
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 17, 2022, for the grant of service connection for PTSD.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
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