The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran has any additional disability caused by the January 2011 VA colonoscopy, including left-hand condition, surgical scars, throat pain, and a saliva stone. The examiner must determine if these conditions are related to the colonoscopy and if they were reasonably foreseeable risks.
The deciding factor: The Board found that a new VA examination is necessary due to contradictory reasoning in the previous VA opinion and the need to address the Veteran's claimed disabilities of left-hand injury, surgical scars, throat pain, and a saliva stone as potential additional disabilities caused by the January 2011 colonoscopy.
- Claimed conditions
- left-hand condition, surgical scars, throat pain, saliva stone
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 12, 2019
- Citation
- 19128481
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral shin splints, shoulder, wrist, hand, and foot disabilities, as the evidence did not support a current disability or a link to service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a left-hand condition and a right-hand condition, but denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for sinusitis. The claims for increased ratings for the left ankle and right ankle conditions were remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the ventral hernia, a separate 30 percent rating for painful or unstable surgical scars, and a TDIU effective March 13, 2022. The claims for increased ratings for diverticulitis and surgical scars under Diagnostic Code 7801 were denied.
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