The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, and right knee disability due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions. The claims are also being remanded for a retrospective opinion on the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there were insufficient opinions addressing whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity, which may serve as an intermediate step in linking his hypertension to these conditions. The claims are also being remanded for a retrospective opinion on the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability.
- Claimed conditions
- hypertension, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, right knee disability, thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD) with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 6, 2023
- Citation
- 23059818
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 23059818.
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.
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The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess his bilateral knee and hip disabilities.
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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 Board has expanded the scope of the claim to include any mental health disorder raised by the record and has remanded for additional development regarding service connection for left leg, ankle, and psychiatric disabilities.
- 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.
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