The Veteran's loss of the sense of smell is being remanded for further evaluation due to incomplete information and need for additional medical opinions regarding its etiology.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not address whether the Veteran’s current loss of the sense of smell was aggravated by exposure to environmental toxins in Southwest Asia or his service-connected deviated nasal septum.
- Claimed conditions
- loss of the sense of smell
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 8, 2019
- Citation
- 19184864
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,614 · Granted: 35% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19184864.
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 denied increased ratings for various conditions, including loss of the sense of smell, urinary problems, erectile dysfunction, and Parkinson's disease, among others.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The veteran's service connection for hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and related conditions was granted. Service connection for cataracts was denied, and issues regarding dry mouth and teeth removal were remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to insufficient medical opinions and need for updated VA treatment records.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection for loss of the sense of smell, taste, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and muscle atrophy are denied as there is no competent and probative evidence establishing a relationship to service or a service-connected disability.,Service connection for coronary artery disease and pain disorder affecting the entire body with psychological factors is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's alleged exposure to Agent Orange.
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