The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, thoracolumbar spine strain, and IBS require additional development due to the need for updated VA examinations.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's conditions have not been evaluated by a VA examiner in over 5 years, and there is no indication of any changes in symptoms or disability level since then. The Board finds that current evaluations are necessary to determine the appropriate ratings for these service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- PTSD with chronic, severe symptoms of anxiety and depression, thoracolumbar spine strain, dextroconvex, thoracic, with old vertebral body compression deformities seen at T9, T8, and T7, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 16, 2020
- Citation
- 20067344
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 claims for increased ratings and service connection, with the exception of remanding certain issues.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection, higher ratings, and earlier effective dates, as well as dismissed his claim for a TDIU.
- Partly granted
The appeal for service connection for fibromyalgia was granted with an effective date of August 14, 2023. The appeals for earlier effective dates and higher ratings were denied.
- Partly granted
The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied, except for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability which were granted. The veteran was also granted service connection for hypertension.
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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.