The veteran's claim for service connection for sickle cell disease was remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the condition.
The deciding factor: Additional evidence is needed to determine if the veteran's sickle cell anemia first manifested during active service or increased in severity during service.
- Claimed conditions
- sickle cell disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 26, 2009
- Citation
- 0902598
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for sickle cell disease, right eye glaucoma, right hip avascular necrosis, and renal disorder as they were not related to the Veteran's active duty. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability was also denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development and readjudication due to inadequate medical opinions regarding his sickle cell disease.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD and for sickle cell disease, including sickle thalassemia disease. The decision is based on the opinion that the Veteran's current conditions are related to their service-connected disabilities.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
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.