The Board has denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and remanded the issues of esophageal varices, liver disease, hepatic cirrhosis, ascites, portal vein thrombosis, and portal vein hypertension as secondary to service-connected splenectomy. The rating for thoracolumbar spine degenerative joint disease status post left transverse process fracture is also being remanded.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome and has not had one at any time during the pendency of the claim or recent to the filing of the claim. The VA examiner did not provide an adequate opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's splenectomy and his gastrointestinal conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic fatigue syndrome, esophageal varices, fatty liver disease, hepatic cirrhosis, ascites, portal vein thrombosis, portal vein hypertension
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 8, 2020
- Citation
- A20015371
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 Board granted service connection for asthma and remanded claims for insomnia and sleep apnea. Other conditions were denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 60 percent disability rating for chronic fatigue syndrome and a 30 percent disability rating for sinusitis, while remanding the claims for service connection for an ovarian condition and increased ratings for tension headaches.
- Granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of February 23, 2022, for the award of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.