The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar spine disorder, excessive scar tissue on the back and acquired psychiatric disorder (posttraumatic stress disorder and anxiety), diabetes mellitus, type II, right arm disorder, left arm disorder, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, and erectile dysfunction due to in-service exposure to ionizing radiation. The claims are remanded for additional development including obtaining medical opinions.
The deciding factor: The Board found the existing medical opinions inadequate and ordered new opinions on the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus, right arm disorder, left arm disorder, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, and erectile dysfunction.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine disorder, excessive scar tissue on the back, acquired psychiatric disorder (posttraumatic stress disorder and anxiety), diabetes mellitus, type II, right arm disorder, left arm disorder, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, erectile dysfunction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 26, 2021
- Citation
- 21004314
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 21004314.
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's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, visual impairment, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran's claims were not granted.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims for sleep apnea and an increased disability rating for diabetes mellitus, type II.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The decision finds that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is proximately due to his service-connected PTSD.
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