The Veteran's claims for TDIU, increased ratings for various knee and back disabilities, service connection for shoulder, ankle, foot, and sleep apnea conditions, as well as reopening of the hypertension claim are all remanded. The Veteran is scheduled for an evaluation to determine his need for aid and attendance.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted in a previous decision but needs to be reconsidered due to new evidence regarding his current medical condition. Increased ratings for knee and back disabilities, as well as service connection claims, are all remanded because the Veteran provided additional information during his hearing that may affect these decisions.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left foot disability, right foot disability, sleep apnea, hypertension
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 15, 2020
- Citation
- 20066799
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 granted an effective date of October 21, 2021, for the grant of service connection for hypertension.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, cubital tunnel syndrome, right plantar fasciitis, and a right knee disability due to the lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
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