The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims on appeal can be decided. The Veteran's representative indicated that he received private treatment from Joslin Diabetes Center and St. Luke's Hospital, which have not been associated with the claims file. Treatment records from the Bedford VA Medical Center (VAMC) were also requested but could not be obtained due to a lack of information in the claims file. Clarification is needed regarding any claimed herbicide exposure for hypertension, and an examination is required to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed cataracts.
The deciding factor: The Board found that additional development was necessary as there were outstanding records from private treatment providers and VA facilities which have not been obtained. Clarification on herbicide exposure is needed for hypertension, and a medical opinion is required to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed cataracts.
- Claimed conditions
- respiratory disability, hypertension, cataracts, diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy of the right lower extremity, diabetic neuropathy of the left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 3, 2021
- Citation
- 21067318
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 21067318.
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 remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to conflicting opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and skin disabilities related to herbicide exposure.
- 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.
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