The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need to verify in-service stressors and potential exposure to herbicide agents, as well as to obtain VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his back (and associated scars), left hip, and bilateral knees disorders.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that there are pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors regarding verification of in-service stressors and potential exposure to herbicide agents, which require further development before a decision can be made on the Veteran's claims.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), Back disorder, Scars associated with back surgery, Left hip disorder, Right knee disorder, Left knee disorder, Diabetes mellitus, Diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, Diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, Diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, Diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, Diabetic foot ulcer of the right foot, Diabetic foot ulcer of the left foot, Heart disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 20, 2022
- Citation
- A22021240
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 A22021240.
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 Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to insufficient evidence of record. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if his conditions are related to service.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of ambulance travel expenses incurred on June 17, 2025 due to an emergency heart attack. The ambulance service was provided by a volunteer organization and later intercepted by a higher-tier EMT company.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to duty to assist errors that occurred prior to the rating decision on appeal. The Veteran's right knee disorder is being remanded for an addendum opinion regarding its etiology.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to an error in notifying the Veteran of his right to a hearing, and not because of any issues with service connection.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.