The Veteran's deviated nasal septum disability status post septoplasty is granted as incurred in service.,Service connection for a back disability, variously claimed as grade I anterolisthesis of the thoracolumbar spine disability and a nerve disability of the right lower extremity are remanded due to insufficient evidence.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lay testimony regarding an injury to his nose during service is consistent with the STRs, which show a deviated nasal septum at separation. The VA examiner provided a positive nexus opinion based on the contemporaneous treatment records.
- Claimed conditions
- deviated nasal septum disability status post septoplasty, grade I anterolisthesis of the thoracolumbar spine disability, nerve disability of the right lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 13, 2019
- Citation
- 19146151
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 317 · Granted: 19% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19146151.
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 Veteran's appeal for service connection for a nerve disability of the right lower extremity was dismissed because he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for nerve disabilities of the upper and lower extremities as secondary to service-connected neck or back disabilities due to a lack of adequate opinion regarding aggravation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's nerve disabilities and respiratory disability are remanded for further examination to determine their etiology, including whether they are related to service or herbicide agent exposure.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
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.