The Board has granted the request to readjudicate the claim for bilateral flatfoot. The claim for secondary service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as related to PTSD and obesity is remanded due to new evidence received since the last decision. The claim for gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) and bilateral hearing loss are also remanded.
The deciding factor: New evidence has been submitted, including testimony from a Board Hearing and medical records, which supports the current diagnosis of acquired flatfoot. For secondary service connection claims, the Veteran's obesity caused by his PTSD medications is an intermediate step in developing obstructive sleep apnea. The claim for GERD and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to unclear reserve service status.
- Claimed conditions
- flatfoot, obstructive sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 15, 2023
- Citation
- A23010090
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 A23010090.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no competent evidence to support a finding that his current condition began in or as a result of service.
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