The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, rheumatoid arthritis, and hypertension are being remanded due to inadequate opinions in the prior VA examinations. The AOJ is instructed to obtain addendum opinions from an appropriate clinician that address the etiology of each condition, including consideration of herbicide agent exposure.
The deciding factor: The previous VA examiners failed to adequately consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding the onset and course of his disabilities and did not provide a clear opinion as to whether he had any manifestations of arthritis within the one-year presumptive period for chronic diseases after separation from service.
- Claimed conditions
- low back disability, rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 31, 2022
- Citation
- 22005055
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 22005055.
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 rheumatoid arthritis disability rating is being remanded for additional development due to significant weight loss and anemia.
- 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.
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