The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inaccurate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's deviated septum, which pre-existed his active service. A new VA examination is required to determine if the condition was aggravated by his military service.
The deciding factor: The initial opinion based on the Veteran's military personnel records did not consider that his surgery for deviated septum occurred during his first period of service and thus pre-existed his second and third periods of active service, leading to an inaccurate determination.
- Claimed conditions
- deviated septum
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 12, 2019
- Citation
- 19193457
Veterans Law Judge
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 19193457.
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: Granted
The Board has granted an effective date of May 12, 2022 for the grant of service connection for a deviated septum.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for chronic sinusitis and deviated septum due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Veteran's current diagnoses of chronic sinusitis are supported by service treatment records, while his deviated septum claim requires further development.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's deviated septum, allergic rhinitis, GERD with persistent nausea, and migraines are all granted as service-connected.,However, the Board is remanding the issue of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral eye condition.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a deviated septum was dismissed. The Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia and IBS received a rating of 30 percent, but no higher.
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