The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to a lack of VA treatment records from the 1960s and 1970s. The Veteran testified that he received treatment for these conditions at various locations including Meadville VA, Franklin Hospital, and privately.
The deciding factor: The Board found that necessary medical records have not been obtained to support the claims for service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- type II diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 23, 2020
- Citation
- 20068732
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Partly granted
The Board grants service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus began during his period of active duty service. The claims for ischemic heart disease, aortic valve replacement, status post aortic stenosis, and peripheral vascular disease with popliteal aneurysm are remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including GERD, chronic kidney disease, COPD, a heart condition, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, insomnia, and obstructive sleep apnea, as additional development is necessary to address the Veteran's exposure to toxic chemical agents during his service.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left and right upper extremity neuropathy, finding that there was no evidence of these conditions during service or within a reasonable time thereafter, and that they were not caused by toxic exposure or any other in-service event.
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