The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to inadequate medical evidence and outstanding VA treatment records. The Board requires new examinations to assess the impact of his service-connected conditions on his ability to work.
The deciding factor: The decision was not about service connection but rather the determination of whether the Veteran could secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- panic disorder with generalized anxiety, asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, low back strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 27, 2020
- Citation
- 20069302
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 his appeals for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and pernicious anemia, and the Board dismissed both appeals.
- Granted
The Veteran was granted a 70 percent disability rating for unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder with major depressive disorder, recurrent, and alcohol use disorder in early remission, as well as TDIU due to asthma and SMC at the housebound rate.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma and remanded claims for insomnia and sleep apnea. Other conditions were denied.
- Denied
The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as the appellant does not have a documented history of recurrent or refractory esophageal stricture(s).
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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.