The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the loss of his claims file prior to June 2001. The Board will seek new and material evidence for skin and respiratory disabilities, as well as a soft tissue sarcoma claim, given presumed exposure to herbicides during service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claims are being remanded because the original claims file is lost, making it impossible to determine if any new evidence received since the prior denial raises a substantial possibility of substantiating his claims for skin and respiratory disabilities due to presumed herbicide exposure. The soft tissue sarcoma claim will also be remanded.
- Claimed conditions
- Skin disability, Respiratory disability
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 25, 2019
- Citation
- 19157431
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19157431.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's VA compensation benefits to a 5% rate effective November 1, 2016 was proper due to his incarceration for more than 60 days following conviction of a felony offense. The appeal is denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted an earlier effective date of July 13, 2018 for the grant of service connection for migraine headaches. The Veteran's claim for a skin disability and increased rating for migraine headaches is being remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete or inadequate medical opinions and missing records. The AOJ will obtain additional evidence, schedule examinations, and provide adequate VA opinions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right and left sciatic nerve radiculopathy as proximately due to this condition, migraine headaches, dizziness, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a skin disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues are remanded.
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