The Veteran's claims for service connection for numbness in his hands and feet, as well as an increased rating for ischemic heart disease with paroxysmal cardiac arrhythmia (also diagnosed as valvular heart disease with septal infarct) associated with herbicide exposure, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's assertions of worsening symptoms since his last VA examination necessitate a contemporaneous evaluation to determine the current severity of his disability.
- Claimed conditions
- numbness/loss of feeling in hands (peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity), numbness in both feet (peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 14, 2020
- Citation
- 20060149
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 20060149.
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 Board of Veterans' Appeals has granted service connection for PTSD and Mood Disorders, both presumed conditions under the PACT Act.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- Granted
Service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is granted. The appeal as to the issue of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction is dismissed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to conflicting opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and skin disabilities related to herbicide exposure.
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