The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), a psychiatric disability, and obstructive sleep apnea due to incomplete examinations and lack of evidence supporting the Veteran's assertions.,Additional development is needed for the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability. The Board finds that an opinion regarding whether the Veteran was disciplined as a result of a fight while in-service and sent to the brig for 45 days as a result is necessary, as well as obtaining all relevant VA and private treatment records.,The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to incomplete examinations and lack of evidence supporting the Veteran's assertions. The issue of TDIU must be deferred until after the outcome of the claims for service connection.,The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance and housebound benefits. The issues are inextricably intertwined with the claims for service connection.,The Board has remanded the claim for SMC and TDIU. These derivative claims must be deferred until after the outcome of the claims for service connection.
The deciding factor: Incomplete examinations and lack of evidence supporting the Veteran's assertions have led to the need for additional development in these cases.,The Board found that an opinion regarding whether the Veteran was disciplined as a result of a fight while in-service and sent to the brig for 45 days as a result is necessary, given the incomplete examination and lack of evidence.,Incomplete examinations and lack of evidence supporting the Veteran's assertions have led to the need for additional development in this case. The issue of TDIU must be deferred until after the outcome of the claims for service connection.,The issues are inextricably intertwined with the claims for service connection, leading to the need for further examination and review of records before making a decision on these derivative claims.,These derivative claims are inextricably intertwined with the claims for service connection. The Board found that they must be deferred until after the outcome of the claims for service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- obstructive sleep apnea, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), psychiatric disability
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 4, 2021
- Citation
- 21000153
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 21000153.
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 claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no competent evidence to support a finding that his current condition began in or as a result of service.
- Denied
The Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as there is no current diagnosis of this condition during the appeal period.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active service or any related exposure.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the evidence did not support a direct relationship to service or toxic exposure. The Veteran's claims were based on his participation in TERA activities during service.
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