The Board has remanded the claim for an initial compensable rating for HSV disability due to insufficient VA opinion addressing whether Valacyclovir is a systemic therapy and like or similar to a corticosteroid or immunosuppressive drug.
The deciding factor: The decision was remanded based on insufficient VA opinion regarding the nature of the medication Valacyclovir.
- Claimed conditions
- HSV (Herpes Simplex Virus)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 3, 2020
- Citation
- 20058456
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 20058456.
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 claim for service connection for HSV, finding that there is no current diagnosis of HSV and insufficient evidence to establish an in-service injury or event related to HSV.
- Granted
The Veteran's maxillary retention cyst with chronic sinusitis, status post laceration with scar, right hand, and dysthymic disorder have been granted initial disability ratings. The HSV rating remains at 10 percent.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's HSV in his mouth is not related to service and denied the claim.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a skin disorder, finding no competent medical evidence linking his current condition to Agent Orange exposure or service.
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