The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for a low back condition, respiratory conditions (asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder), depression, anxiety, sleep apnea, migraines, left knee condition, right shoulder bursitis, and memory loss. The claims are remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for examinations to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed conditions.
The deciding factor: The Board has reopened the previously denied claims based on new evidence submitted by the Veteran, but the claims remain pending as they need further examination and evaluation due to outstanding VA treatment records and service treatment records that may contain relevant information.
- Claimed conditions
- low back condition, respiratory condition (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder), depression, anxiety, sleep apnea, migraines, left knee condition, right shoulder bursitis, memory loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 24, 2020
- Citation
- 20020989
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 20020989.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines was reopened due to new evidence. Service connection is granted for painful scars, but the rating assigned remains at 10 percent. The claims for fibromyalgia and bilateral shoulder disability are denied.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease manifesting within one year after service and concluding that the current disability is not related to his in-service deviated septum.
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