The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for HTN, a low back disability, including osteoporosis and degenerative disc disease (DDD), and secondary service connection for CAD to HTN and sciatica of the bilateral lower extremities. The remand requires additional medical opinions regarding the onset and etiology of these conditions.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the previous VA examinations were inadequate, particularly in not considering the Veteran's statements about having elevated blood pressure since boot camp and continuous treatment for HTN since 1954, as well as the earlier October 1977 VA treatment record noting a history of HTN.
- Claimed conditions
- Hypertension (HTN), Low Back Disability, Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), Sciatica of the Bilateral Lower Extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20081158
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a rating greater than 70 percent for PTSD, granted an earlier effective date of August 14, 2024, for the grant of a 70 percent rating for PTSD, and denied other claims including entitlement to an effective date prior to April 3, 2025, for the grant of a 100 percent rating evaluation for CAD.
- Denied
The Board denied the claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, a low back disability, a left knee disability, and a left shoulder disability as there was no evidence to support that these conditions were incurred in or caused by the Veteran's military service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a higher level of special monthly compensation (SMC) as he does not meet the criteria for an increased rate based on his service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a stomach disorder, HTN, and a heart condition due to the need for additional evidence.
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