The Veteran's Crohn's disease may be related to his service, including potential herbicide exposure near the Korean DMZ. The right shoulder and spine conditions need further examination for a determination of their current severity.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has raised a theory of entitlement based on herbicide exposure during service, which requires additional inquiry into proximity to the Korean DMZ.
- Claimed conditions
- Crohn's disease, right shoulder osteoarthritis, degenerative arthritis of the spine
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 10, 2019
- Citation
- 19127862
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for Crohn's disease to correct duty to assist errors.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a deviated septum and right wrist pain, while denying service connection for sleep apnea. The decision also addressed various rating issues and effective dates.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral knee, bilateral shoulder, low back and bilateral hip disabilities based on the evidence showing that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for an adequate addendum opinion that addresses the June 2021 private medical opinion regarding the Veteran's symptoms related to his service-connected conditions.
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.