The Veteran's PTSD with MDD disability is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his symptoms.,The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing whether it is related to burn pit exposure while serving overseas.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is remanded as there was no opinion regarding its relationship to PTSD with MDD and/or service-connected conditions, including burn pit exposure.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it had its onset in service or is otherwise related to active service.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities is remanded as there was no opinion regarding whether it is related to PTSD with MDD.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the November 2018 decision did not fully address the severity, frequency, and duration of the Veteran’s PTSD with MDD symptoms.,There were insufficient VA examinations addressing chronic sinusitis due to burn pit exposure while serving overseas.,VA examiners did not provide an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to PTSD with MDD or aggravated by service-connected conditions, including obesity caused by PTSD with MDD.,The Board found that a VA examination was needed to determine if the Veteran’s cervical spine disability had its onset in service or is otherwise related to active service.,There was no opinion regarding whether the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities is related to PTSD with MDD.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Chronic Sinusitis, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Cervical Spine Disability, Peripheral Neuropathy of the Left and Right Upper Extremities
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20050192
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 20050192.
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 PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since March 23, 2004. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted prior to February 15, 2005 due to the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his social and occupational functioning.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70% disability rating. The Veteran also met the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
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