The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for angiolipomas (claimed as fatty tumors due to exposure to burn pits in Iraq) is remanded. The case will be returned to the examiner for further review and an opinion regarding the etiology of the condition.
The deciding factor: The January 2019 VA medical opinion was inadequate because it did not provide a reasoned analysis for its conclusion, failed to address the Veteran's lay statements about injuries sustained during service, and did not consider the potential link between burn pit exposure and angiolipomas.
- Claimed conditions
- angiolipomas
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 13, 2020
- Citation
- 20033547
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 20033547.
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 Veteran's lipomas and angiolipomas are remanded for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and verifying in-service exposure to radiation. An addendum opinion is needed from a different examiner to address the etiology of the lipomas and angiolipomas, as well as their relationship to service.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's angiolipomas, characterized as fatty tumors, are not related to service, including exposure to burn pits or physical trauma during service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant through his authorized representative before a decision was made.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the severity of his HIV, chronic fatigue syndrome, and skin disorders. His claims for TDIU and special monthly compensation on account of being housebound are also being remanded.
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