The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and service connection are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.,VA is seeking a new medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s asthma, including whether it had its onset during active service or if related to his military occupational specialty as a support equipment gas turbine mechanic. The examiner must also determine if the Veteran's wheezing on inspiration and expiration documented in 1997 is an earlier manifestation of undiagnosed illness.,VA is seeking a new medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s obstructive sleep apnea, including whether it had its onset during active service or if related to his military occupational specialty as a support equipment gas turbine mechanic. The examiner must also determine if the Veteran's symptoms are manifestations of an undiagnosed illness.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations were inadequate and did not provide sufficient information regarding the severity, frequency, and duration of flare-ups, nor did they estimate additional loss of range of motion during a flare-up.,VA needs to obtain a retrospective medical opinion from an appropriate clinician to determine if the Veteran's asthma had its onset during active service or is related to his military occupational specialty as a support equipment gas turbine mechanic. The examiner must also determine if the Veteran’s wheezing on inspiration and expiration documented in 1997 are manifestations of an undiagnosed illness.,VA needs to obtain a retrospective medical opinion from an appropriate clinician to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea had its onset during active service or is related to his military occupational specialty as a support equipment gas turbine mechanic. The examiner must also determine if the Veteran’s symptoms are manifestations of an undiagnosed illness.
- Claimed conditions
- Intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis, Asthma, Obstructive sleep apnea
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 4, 2019
- Citation
- 19142657
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 asbestosis, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), rhinitis, sinusitis, and asthma. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was also denied a compensable rating.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various disabilities and denied higher ratings for several service-connected conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, chronic rhinitis, and obstructive sleep apnea. The headache claim was remanded for further examination.
- Partly granted
The appeal was denied for service connection of a cervical spine disorder, and several claims were remanded for further development.
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