The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for polymyositis and dermatomyositis due to exposure to anthrax vaccine, as it is unclear whether these conditions are related to military service. The VA examiner must provide an addendum opinion addressing the relationship between the Veteran's in-service anthrax vaccine exposure and his current diagnoses.
The deciding factor: The Board found that further medical clarification is needed regarding the relationship between the Veteran's in-service anthrax vaccine exposure and his current diagnoses of polymyositis and dermatomyositis.
- Claimed conditions
- polymyositis, dermatomyositis
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 30, 2020
- Citation
- 20007391
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 polymyositis and GERD, both of which are related to the Veteran's service-connected esophageal cancer.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for dermatomyositis, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for dermatomyositis, finding the evidence persuasive against it being incurred in or caused by service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for polymyositis as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis and the symptoms were attributed to his already service-connected conditions.
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