The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning in a May 2022 VA opinion regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is secondary to service-connected disabilities including diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy, coronary artery disease, and hypertension. The AOJ needs to obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether these conditions caused or aggravated the Veteran's obesity.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the May 2022 VA opinion did not adequately address points raised by the Joint Motion for Remand regarding the relationship between service-connected diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, coronary artery disease, and hypertension and the Veteran's obesity, as well as whether his inability to exercise due to these conditions caused or aggravated his OSA.
- Claimed conditions
- obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy, coronary artery disease, hypertension
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 6, 2023
- Citation
- 23043581
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 23043581.
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 the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to conflicting opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and skin disabilities related to herbicide exposure.
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