The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for gallbladder removal, an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression), and vitiligo due to inadequate VA opinions and consideration of new evidence. The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are alleged to have aggravated her gallbladder condition.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the previous VA opinions were inadequate and remanded for additional examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran’s service-connected bilateral knee disabilities may have aggravated her gallbladder removal.
- Claimed conditions
- gallbladder removal, gallstones, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression), vitiligo
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20007208
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for vitiligo has been withdrawn by the Veteran.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for hypertension, a compensable rating for hypertension, and service connection for various conditions including PTSD, right ankle disability, left elbow disability, headaches, erectile dysfunction, but granted service connection for headaches and erectile dysfunction as secondary to hypertension, and special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for vitiligo and gastrointestinal disability, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, right hand disability, left hand disability, and other knee and ankle disabilities. The decision also addressed the rating of PTSD.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an initial 50 percent evaluation for service-connected cluster headaches and denied service connection for hearing loss, while granting service connection for a right lateral collateral ligament sprain as secondary to the left ankle disability and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD.
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