The Board has denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for left shoulder strain with degenerative joint disease, neck disorder, and lower back disorder. The Veteran's claims were received on June 18, 2015, and January 28, 2016, respectively.,The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), erectile dysfunction, and cognitive impairment secondary to posttraumatic headaches and PTSD.
The deciding factor: The effective dates for the grants of service connection were determined based on when the Veteran's claims were received by VA. The Board found that earlier effective dates could not be granted as the RO had already considered these issues in previous decisions.,For the remanded issues, additional medical opinions are needed to address whether the Veteran's conditions are related to his service-connected disabilities and/or exposure to toxic substances during service.
- Claimed conditions
- left shoulder strain with degenerative joint disease, cervicalgia (neck disorder), lower back disorder, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), erectile dysfunction, cognitive impairment
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 27, 2023
- Citation
- 23041148
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 23041148.
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 claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- 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 Board has found that the Veteran meets the basic medical eligibility criteria for PCAFC benefits due to his need for personal care services based on symptoms or residuals of neurological or other impairment or injury. However, further clinical evaluation is needed to determine if participation in the program is in the Veteran's best interest.
- Granted
The Veteran's OSA is granted as service connected. The Veteran's infectious disease claim and stomach disability claim are remanded for further examination.
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