The Board has determined that the VA examinations for reactive arthritis, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, chronic bronchitis, and COPD are inadequate. The Veteran must be afforded new VA examinations to determine whether his conditions had their onset in service or are related to herbicide agent exposure.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the previous VA examinations were insufficient due to a lack of consideration of the Veteran's contentions regarding in-service onset and exposure, as well as medical literature submitted by the Veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Reactive Arthritis","claimed_condition":"Spiral Viral Syndrome"}, {"condition_name":"Chronic Sinusitis","claimed_condition":""}, {"condition_name":"Allergic Rhinitis","claimed_condition":""}, {"condition_name":"Chronic Bronchitis","claimed_condition":""}, {"condition_name":"Obstructive Sleep Apnea","claimed_condition":""}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 19, 2019
- Citation
- 19148021
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for myasthenia gravis based on the Veteran's exposure to hazardous substances during his military service.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.