The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional medical examination and analysis regarding the Veteran's polycythemia, including its relation to service exposure.
The deciding factor: The examiner is required to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran’s blood disorder is at least as likely as not related to his period of service, specifically his exposure to toxic herbicides.
- Claimed conditions
- polycythemia
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 20, 2020
- Citation
- 20035047
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 20035047.
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 Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines (headaches) is granted. The claim for service connection for polycythemia and sleep apnea is denied.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's polycythemia requires phlebotomy six or more times during a 12 month period, and thus an initial evaluation of 60 percent is granted.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for eczema, as secondary to his service-connected polycythemia, needs further examination and opinion. The case is therefore REMANDED.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The increased rating claim for PTSD in excess of 30 percent is denied. The matter of service connection for polycythemia as secondary to service-connected obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.
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