The Board has remanded the claims for a broken right zygomatic arch, missing tooth for VA compensation, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression, GAD, panic disorder, and/or PTSD), sleep disorder, facial scars, and back disability due to incomplete development of records.
The deciding factor: Incomplete development of records was noted, including the lack of STRs and MPRs from a reported inpatient stay at a hospital in Germany during service. The AOJ is directed to contact the RMC for copies of any available STRs and/or MPRs, and to make another request through official sources for any service department hospital records that might correspond to the care received during service following a personal assault.
- Claimed conditions
- broken right zygomatic arch, missing tooth for purposes of VA compensation, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, and/or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)), sleep disorder, facial scars, back disability
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 21, 2023
- Citation
- 23052176
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 23052176.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Granted
The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, endometriosis, thyroid condition, and chronic fatigue syndrome due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial. The claims are now considered on their merits.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD was granted with an initial evaluation of 50 percent, effective September 24, 2007. The appeal regarding the heart condition and sleep disorder is denied. The Veteran's hearing loss prior to August 24, 2015, warrants a 20 percent rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for additional VA examination. The Veteran's back disability is being reviewed again with new evidence.
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