The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a recurrent lumbar spine disability, recurrent skin disability (PFB), recurrent sleep disability (obstructive sleep apnea), diabetes mellitus, and testicular disability (testicular cancer) as well as his psychiatric disability. The VA is instructed to obtain service records and verify the Veteran's periods of active duty, active duty for training, and inactive duty for training with the Navy Reserve.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there were insufficient service records available to determine the nature and etiology of the claimed disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- recurrent lumbar spine disability, recurrent skin disability (PFB), recurrent sleep disability (obstructive sleep apnea), diabetes mellitus, testicular disability (testicular cancer), psychiatric disability (major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 20, 2023
- Citation
- 23040000
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 23040000.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, visual impairment, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran's claims were not granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection on the merits are being remanded due to new evidence and development needs. The maximum disability rating for tinnitus has already been assigned.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, right lower extremity peripheral artery disease, left lower extremity peripheral artery disease, and hypertension as the evidence did not establish an in-service event or exposure to herbicide agents.
- Granted
The Veteran's Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular Aid and Attendance is granted as of April 25, 2024.,For diabetes mellitus, a rating in excess of 20 percent is denied.
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