The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to outstanding SSA records that may contain relevant evidence. The earlier effective date claim is inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim.
The deciding factor: The earlier effective date claim for sleep apnea is inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim, which requires adjudication first.
- Claimed conditions
- peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities, rheumatoid arthritis of the bilateral shoulder, osteoarthritis of the bilateral knee, osteoarthritis of the bilateral hip, osteoarthritis of the bilateral ankle, osteoarthritis of the bilateral foot
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 11, 2022
- Citation
- 22045642
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 22045642.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for Total Disability Rating Due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is granted, effective from November 4, 2016. The TDIU was previously denied prior to this date due to the Board's failure to consider whether his service-connected disabilities could be combined and considered 'one disability' under VA regulations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the bilateral foot and hands as further development is needed to address the Veteran's reported pain and functional impairment.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to unclear notice and denial reasons. The Board finds the PCAFC decision did not clearly state which criteria were unmet, leading to a need for clarification.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him helpless or in need of regular aid and attendance, thus denying his claim for special monthly compensation based on housebound status or permanent need for aid and attendance.
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.