The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's respiratory/pulmonary symptoms and their relationship to service, including his service-connected IBS.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner’s opinion was inadequate as it did not address the Veteran's documented in-service exposure to triorthocresyl phosphate (TOCP) or provide a clear explanation for attributing the chronic cough condition to GERD.
- Claimed conditions
- respiratory condition, chronic cough
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 6, 2019
- Citation
- 19160465
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 19160465.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the service connection claim for chronic cough due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, as the VA medical opinions were based on an inaccurate premise.
- Dismissed
The appeal for an earlier effective date and a compensable rating for chronic cough was denied, while the claims for service connection for lower back strain, spinal fusion surgery, L3-4 foraminotomy, L4-5 discectomy, and gout in the right foot were remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of March 7, 2019, for the grant of service connection for pulmonary nodule and chronic cough but denied a compensable disability rating for the same condition. The claim for service connection for lesions on lungs was remanded.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia, migraines, neuropsychological signs or symptoms, and a respiratory condition. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep disorder, lumbar spine disability, bilateral eye conditions, gastrointestinal problems, high blood pressure, and left below knee amputation were remanded.
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