The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, sciatica in the right lower extremity, and acquired psychiatric disorder (chronic adjustment disorder). The issues are being remanded to obtain updated medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.
The deciding factor: The Board found that a new opinion is needed due to inadequate reasoning provided by the VA examiner for the previous opinions on service connection and rating, as well as the need for updated examinations considering recent treatment records and the Veteran's current condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Peripheral neuropathy in the bilateral upper extremities, Acquired psychiatric disorder (chronic adjustment disorder)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 7, 2020
- Citation
- 20045062
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 20045062.
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 acquired psychiatric disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, and a higher rating for this condition is denied. A total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Granted
The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be caused by his service-connected low back and radiculopathy disabilities, which prevent him from doing enjoyable activities and daily living tasks.
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