The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his hypertension, erectile disorder, gastrointestinal disability, COPD, skin disability, and sleep apnea. The VA examiner will be asked to provide an opinion on whether these conditions are proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, type II diabetes mellitus, or other relevant conditions.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claims involve complex medical issues that require clarification regarding the potential secondary effects of his service-connected conditions. The VA examiner will need to address these specific theories of entitlement in order to provide a complete and accurate assessment.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Hypertension"}, {"condition_name":"Erectile Disorder"}, {"condition_name":"Gastrointestinal Disability (hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux disease with Barrett's esophagus)"}, {"condition_name":"COPD"}, {"condition_name":"Skin Disability (actinic keratosis, squamous cell carcinoma)"}, {"condition_name":"Sleep Apnea"}, {"condition_name":"Right Elbow Lateral Epicondylitis"}
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 2, 2020
- Citation
- 20064387
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
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.