The Board has remanded the claim for hypertension due to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II and/or acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) as well as exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's current hypertension is being reviewed by a VA examiner who will provide an opinion on its relationship to these conditions.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the November 2020 VA examiner's opinions were inadequate, particularly regarding the potential aggravation of hypertension due to diabetes and obesity, as well as the lack of clear guidance from VA on the association between hypertension and herbicide exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type II, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 27, 2021
- Citation
- 21076637
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 21076637.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and increased rating for anxiety disorder have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability meeting the criteria for hypertension, and the Veteran's anxiety disorder does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
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