The Veteran's hypertension is found to be related to service, and the claim for service connection is granted.,The Veteran's right foot condition, left foot condition, right ankle condition, left ankle condition, right knee condition, and left knee condition are remanded due to insufficient rationale in the VA examination opinions.,The Veteran's sinusitis is found to be related to service, and the claim for service connection is granted.
The deciding factor: Service treatment records show hypertension throughout service and after separation. The weight of evidence supports a finding that hypertension is related to service.,VA examination opinions did not consider all relevant in-service treatment records and the Veteran's contentions regarding her lower extremity conditions. Additional medical opinions are needed.,In-service treatment records indicate sinusitis symptoms multiple times during service, and the Veteran contends her condition is seasonal. The VA examiner's opinion was insufficient to determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- hypertension, right foot condition, left foot condition, right ankle condition, left ankle condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, sinusitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 24, 2023
- Citation
- 23057591
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 23057591.
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 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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and increased rating for anxiety disorder have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability meeting the criteria for hypertension, and the Veteran's anxiety disorder does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.