The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations. The issues of service connection for various disabilities, including a left ankle disability, eye disability, thyroid disability, low back disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability (reopened), right knee disability, left knee disability, headaches, and hemorrhoids, are being addressed.
The deciding factor: The claims require additional medical evidence to determine the relationship between the Veteran's current disabilities and his service. The VA examiners have indicated that there is insufficient documentation of specific injuries or conditions in or after service to support a determination on these issues.
- Claimed conditions
- Left ankle disability, Eye disability, Thyroid disability, Low back disability, Right ankle disability, Left ankle disability (reopened), Right knee disability, Left knee disability, Headaches, Hemorrhoids
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 8, 2020
- Citation
- 20032657
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 20032657.
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 the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current disabilities to military service.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected low back disability alone does not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased evaluation of his hemorrhoids, so the case is dismissed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for obstructive sleep apnea and headaches, finding that the evidence does not support a finding of persistent daytime hypersomnolence or other manifestations consistent with a compensable disability rating under the criteria established by Diagnostic Codes. The matter is remanded to obtain additional information from the Veteran regarding his headaches and their impact on his daily life.
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