The Veteran's appeal involves multiple surgical procedures and their potential impact on his conditions. The Board has ordered a remand to obtain Social Security Administration disability benefits records, as the record shows SSA disability benefits but there is no evidence of such in the VA file.
The deciding factor: VA needs to verify the Veteran's social security disability benefits status from the SSA to determine if they should be obtained for review.
- Claimed conditions
- Rectal Abscess, Constipation, Aborted Colostomy, Colonoscopy with Ostomy and Rectum, Colostomy Take-down, Deviated Nasal Septum, Maxillary Sinusitis, Adenitis, Tooth Decay, Chronic Pain, Arthritis, Contracture of Upper Arm Joint, Bilateral Axilla Hydradenitis, Acne Vulgaris, Urinary Tract Infection, Hypotension, Alcohol and Tobacco Use Disorder, Scars and Loss of Tissue on Buttocks, Scars on Right and Left Thigh, Scars Under Both Arms with Shoulder Complication, Scars on Groin Area, Scars on Abdominal Area with Two Hernias
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 15, 2023
- Citation
- 23015543
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 23015543.
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 GERD with constipation is rated at 30 percent effective September 3, 2024. Prior to this date, the rating was 10 percent.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of opinion regarding whether the Veteran's IBS is related to his service, specifically Gulf War exposure. The VA will schedule an examination and provide an updated medical opinion.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error in previous examinations, requiring additional information on right shoulder ROM measurements without medication effects.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further medical examinations and evaluations. The issues include psychiatric disabilities, lumbosacral strain, plantar fasciitis, rheumatoid arthritis, prostate disability, erectile dysfunction, hearing loss, nasal disability, and pulmonary disability.
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