The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for metabolic syndrome and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease as secondary to service-connected psoriasis with dermatitis and genital herpes, psoriatic arthritis, and/or coccidioidomycosis due to inadequate medical opinions. Additional evidence is needed from a different examiner.
The deciding factor: The Board found the provided medical opinions insufficient and requested addendum opinions addressing all medications used by the Veteran and any potential link between service-connected conditions and exposure to trihalomethanes on Diego Garcia.
- Claimed conditions
- metabolic syndrome, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 5, 2023
- Citation
- 23048355
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 23048355.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for liver disease, including cirrhosis, MASH, and metabolic syndrome due to inadequate medical opinions. The case is being returned to the AOJ for a new VA examination by a specialist in liver diseases.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for metabolic syndrome and remanded claims for diabetes, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, and tension headaches due to insufficient evidence.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for metabolic syndrome as it is not a disability for which VA benefits may be awarded, and remanded the claim for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to obtain additional evidence.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's service connection for hypertension as secondary to sleep apnea, and separate ratings for right knee meniscal tear and right ankle instability were granted. Other claims were denied.
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