The Board has determined that a VA medical examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current vocal cord disability, including whether it is related to service. The Veteran's claim for service connection will be remanded.
The deciding factor: The McClendon criteria are met as there is competent evidence of a current disability (vocal cord damage), evidence establishing that an event occurred in service (shouting commands during training), and an indication that the disability may be associated with service. However, insufficient competent medical evidence on file for the Secretary to make a decision.
- Claimed conditions
- vocal cord damage
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 29, 2018
- Citation
- 1818712
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1818712.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a throat condition to schedule an appropriate VA compensation examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed throat condition.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions and denied entitlement to higher initial ratings for existing disabilities.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for hypothyroidism, vocal cord damage, dry mouth disability, and dysphagia as the evidence did not show exposure to herbicide agents or other presumptive conditions during active duty.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence received, and requests an addendum opinion regarding his esophageal cancer.
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