The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a stroke, as well as his claim for TDIU due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.,Specifically, the Board requested an addendum opinion on the etiology of the Veteran’s sleep apnea, addressing whether it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by any service-connected conditions.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the January 2020 VA examiner's opinions were inadequate due to lack of rationale and failure to consider previous medical evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Stroke (including any residuals thereof), Major Depressive Disorder with anxious distress, Hypertension, Left Foot Hallux Valgus, Right Foot Hallux Valgus, Tinnitus, Bilateral Hearing Loss, Bilateral Hammertoe Conditions, Left Toe Scar
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 8, 2020
- Citation
- 20045468
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 20045468.
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 service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
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