The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,The appeal for sleep apnea has been rendered moot by the grant of service connection in a previous decision.,Initial disability ratings for left and right ankle disabilities are remanded due to lack of adequate medical examination addressing functional loss during flare-ups and repetitive use over time.,Service connection for residuals from nerve agent exposure is remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of these conditions.,Service connection for lumbar spine disability, secondary to service-connected bilateral ankle disabilities and acquired PTSD, is remanded due to lack of a medical opinion addressing causation or aggravation by service-connected disabilities.,Service connection for obesity (as an intermediate factor leading to back condition) is not addressed in the decision.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be related to his active-duty service due to noise exposure during training and combat activities, with a current diagnosis of tinnitus.,The appeal for sleep apnea has been resolved as it was granted by a previous rating decision, making the issue moot.,The VA examination did not adequately address functional loss experienced by the Veteran during flare-ups or repetitive use over time. The Board requires additional medical evidence to determine if the Veteran's ankle conditions warrant higher disability ratings.,There is insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's residuals from nerve agent exposure, necessitating a remand for further examination and opinion.,The VA examinations did not address whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities aggravated his lumbar spine condition. The Board requires an additional medical opinion to determine if there is causation or aggravation by service-connected disabilities.,There was no discussion of obesity as an intermediate factor leading to the Veteran's back condition, necessitating a remand for further examination and opinion.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, sleep apnea, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, residuals from nerve agent exposure, lumbar spine disability
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 20, 2022
- Citation
- 22059174
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 22059174.
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 expanded the scope of the claim to include any mental health disorder raised by the record and has remanded for additional development regarding service connection for left leg, ankle, and psychiatric disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
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.