The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed obstructive sleep apnea. The effective dates for increased ratings on neck scar, right upper chest scar, and left elbow and wrist scars are denied.
The deciding factor: The effective dates for the increased ratings were not warranted as there was no evidence showing an increase in severity prior to February 20, 2018.
- Claimed conditions
- neck scar, left elbow and left wrist scars, right upper chest scar
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 24, 2023
- Citation
- 23062376
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 23062376.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's combined disability rating was 100% from February 6, 2006. The Veteran died in February 2020 and had been receiving a total disability rating for at least 10 years immediately preceding his death. Therefore, DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 are granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's neck scar, and a new examination is needed.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various radiculopathy conditions and a neck scar have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on the current symptoms.
- Denied
The Board denied a higher disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected neck scar, granting only a separate non-compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7800.
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