The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, left shoulder and ankle conditions, knee degenerative joint disease, radiculopathy, skin disorders, cervical spine disability, facial injury residuals, TMJ, sleep apnea, headaches, hand tremors, CFS, fibromyalgia, and muscle and joint pain. The Board finds that additional evidence is needed to properly evaluate these issues.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not been evaluated in over five years, and there are inconsistencies in the medical opinions provided by VA examiners regarding the etiology of his conditions. Additionally, the Veteran has reported ongoing symptoms related to some of his disabilities that were not addressed during previous evaluations.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with alcohol use disorder, Posttraumatic subacromial bursitis, left shoulder, with trapezius scapular trigger zone (non-dominant), Posttraumatic talofibular ligament strain, left ankle, with osteopenia, RPPS, left knee, degenerative joint disease, Lumbosacral strain, lumbar spine with degenerative joint disease, Radiculopathy, lower right extremity (sciatic nerve), Radiculopathy, lower left extremity (sciatic nerve), Radiculopathy, right lower extremity (femoral nerve), Radiculopathy, left lower extremity (femoral nerve), Acne keloidic nuchae, Pseudofolliculitis barbae, Cervical spine disability, Residuals of facial injury, to include deviated septum, Temporomandibular joint (TMJ), Sleep apnea, Headache disability, Hand tremors, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Fibromyalgia, Muscle and joint pain
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 10, 2023
- Citation
- 23055381
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 23055381.
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 claims for sleep apnea and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to insufficient evidence of record. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if his conditions are related to service.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, the maximum rating available under the General Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The evidence does not support a higher rating as his range of motion did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus with hammer toes, hallux valgus and degenerative arthritis, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral kidney cysts, rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU based on these conditions.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Chronic Dermatitis were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's CFS did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as his symptoms restricted routine daily activities to less than 50 percent of the pre-illness level. For Chronic Dermatitis, the Board determined that topical therapy was sufficient without requiring systemic therapy.
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