The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for status post left upper lobectomy for lung cancer is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination. Additionally, his rib disorder needs to be evaluated and its relationship to his service-connected condition must be determined.
The deciding factor: The case requires additional development including a VA examination to assess the Veteran's current disability status and etiology of any associated rib pain.
- Claimed conditions
- status post left upper lobectomy for lung cancer, rib pain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 7, 2016
- Citation
- 1614246
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 1614246.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for GERD, back pain, cervical spine disability, and rib pain. The remaining claims were remanded for further development.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a conclusion that he was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded three issues: entitlement to separate compensation for shortness of breath and rib pain associated with service-connected pleural fibrosis, as well as the issue of total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU). The Veteran's respiratory conditions are currently rated at 50 percent combined. Additional development is needed to address the relationship between the Veteran's symptoms and his service-connected conditions, as well as to determine whether he is unemployable.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a disability manifested by rib pain, finding that there is no evidence of current disability related to active service.
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