The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is denied as there is no separate diagnosis of the condition.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder (claimed as emphysema, COPD, and recurrent pneumonia) are remanded due to insufficient clarification on whether he continues to experience recurrent pneumonia past 2009 and whether his diagnosed conditions are proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected coronary artery disease.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for restless leg syndrome, right leg and left leg are remanded as the VA examiner did not address the relationship between cold weather exposure and restless leg syndrome.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left eye retinal pigment epithelium mottling, para retinal telangiectasia is remanded due to a lack of Goldmann visual field chart from his September 2009 VA examination and the need for clarification on whether bilateral dermatochalasis and bilateral cataracts are symptoms or separate diagnoses proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected left eye condition.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome, which could be attributed to active service or a service-connected disability.,There is insufficient clarification on whether the Veteran continues to experience recurrent pneumonia past 2009 and whether his respiratory disorder is proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected coronary artery disease.,The relationship between cold weather exposure and restless leg syndrome has not been addressed in the VA examination report.,The lack of Goldmann visual field chart from the September 2009 VA examination and the need for clarification on whether bilateral dermatochalasis and bilateral cataracts are symptoms or separate diagnoses proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected left eye condition.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disorder (claimed as emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), and recurrent pneumonia), restless leg syndrome, right leg, restless leg syndrome, left leg, left eye retinal pigment epithelium mottling, para retinal telangiectasia
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 12, 2021
- Citation
- 21042368
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 21042368.
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 has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Granted
The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, endometriosis, thyroid condition, and chronic fatigue syndrome due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial. The claims are now considered on their merits.
- Granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, IBS with GERD, and OSA were denied. The claim for OSA was granted due to the receipt of new evidence showing a current disability.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and a right knee disorder. The evidence did not meet the criteria for direct service connection as there was no in-service diagnosis or continuity of symptomatology.
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