The Board finds that additional medical opinions are needed to determine if the Veteran's joint pain, gastrointestinal disorder, fatigue, and headaches are due to undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses.,The Board finds that additional medical opinions are needed to determine if the Veteran's ulcerative colitis is related to in-service exposure to environmental hazards or otherwise related to service.,The Board finds that additional medical opinions are needed to determine if the Veteran's fatigue is due to undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses.,The Board finds that an examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's headaches are related to in-service TBI or otherwise related to service.,The Board finds that an examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's right hand wrist strain and left hand wrist strain are related to service.,The Board finds that an examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's disability of the left hand fingers and disability of the right hand fingers are related to service.,The Board finds that an examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to service.,The RO combined the rating for residuals of concussion with PTSD. The Board finds that a separate rating for residuals of concussion should be considered in light of the Veteran's reported overuse injury and repetitive motion stemming from his service duties.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not provide sufficient information to determine if the Veteran's joint pain, gastrointestinal disorder, fatigue, or headaches are due to undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses.,The examiner did not address whether the Veteran's ulcerative colitis is related to in-service exposure to environmental hazards or otherwise related to service.,The examiner did not address whether the Veteran's fatigue is due to undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses.,The 2016 examination did not adequately address the Veteran's report of overuse injury in service and based the opinion, in part, on the lack of documentation of post-service treatment until 2013. The Veteran has reported continuous symptoms and/or treatment since service.,The examiner did not provide a rationale for his conclusion that the right hand wrist strain and left hand wrist strain are related to post-service work activities or changes associated with the normal aging process.,The examiner did not address whether the Veteran's disability of the left hand fingers and disability of the right hand fingers are related to service.,The examiner did not provide a rationale for his conclusion that the cervical spine disability is related to service.,The RO combined the rating for residuals of concussion with PTSD. The Board finds that a separate rating for residuals of concussion should be considered in light of the Veteran's reported overuse injury and repetitive motion stemming from his service duties.
- Claimed conditions
- Multiple Joint Pain, Gastrointestinal Disorder (Ulcerative Colitis), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Headaches, Right Hand Wrist Strain, Left Hand Wrist Strain, Disability of the Left Hand Fingers, Disability of the Right Hand Fingers, Cervical Spine Disability
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 13, 2021
- Citation
- 21042473
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 21042473.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome due to conflicting medical evidence regarding the potential diagnosis. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further review and consideration.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for obstructive sleep apnea and headaches, finding that the evidence does not support a finding of persistent daytime hypersomnolence or other manifestations consistent with a compensable disability rating under the criteria established by Diagnostic Codes. The matter is remanded to obtain additional information from the Veteran regarding his headaches and their impact on his daily life.
- Granted
The Veteran's cervical spine disability, right knee strain (painful motion), and right knee instability are now rated at 30 percent effective August 16, 2017.
- Granted
The Veteran's OSA is granted as secondary to PTSD, but his headaches are denied due to lack of service connection.
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