The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder, to include as secondary to PTSD, is denied.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for headaches and tinnitus are remanded due to inadequate examination in the August 2016 VA examination.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for right lower extremity neuropathy is remanded due to inadequate examination in the July 2019 Board remand.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not establish a current disability for sleep disorder separate and distinct from PTSD, which is already service-connected.,The August 2016 VA examination failed to consider whether the Veteran's lay statements supported a conclusion that his headaches were incurred in service. The remand requested an opinion addressing the Veteran's direct service connection theory of entitlement for his current headache disorder but also considered secondary service connection theories.,The July 2019 Board remand requested an examination to determine the nature of the Veteran's claimed bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, including whether it is related to service or to his right knee disability or back disability. The remand was not completed.
- Claimed conditions
- Sleep Disorder, Headaches, Tinnitus, Right Lower Extremity Neuropathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 27, 2021
- Citation
- 21076501
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 21076501.
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 service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and dismissed his appeals regarding increased ratings for tinnitus and a right hand disability due to lack of timely filing of Notice of Disagreement.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including GAD, MDD, bruxism, migraines/headaches, tinnitus, hip pain, iliotibial band syndrome, and leg stress fractures. The evidence does not support current diagnoses of these conditions during the appeal period.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus with hammer toes, hallux valgus and degenerative arthritis, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral kidney cysts, rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU based on these conditions.
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