The Board has remanded the case for a new VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's respiratory/pulmonary symptoms, including chronic cough, are related to his service-connected IBS or any in-service exposure. The examiner is also asked to address whether the condition can be attributed to a known clinical diagnosis.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the previous VA medical opinion was inadequate and requested an addendum opinion to address causality and exposure issues.
- Claimed conditions
- respiratory condition, chronic cough
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 29, 2020
- Citation
- 20070218
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 Board remands the service connection claim for chronic cough due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, as the VA medical opinions were based on an inaccurate premise.
- Dismissed
The appeal for an earlier effective date and a compensable rating for chronic cough was denied, while the claims for service connection for lower back strain, spinal fusion surgery, L3-4 foraminotomy, L4-5 discectomy, and gout in the right foot were remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of March 7, 2019, for the grant of service connection for pulmonary nodule and chronic cough but denied a compensable disability rating for the same condition. The claim for service connection for lesions on lungs was remanded.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia, migraines, neuropsychological signs or symptoms, and a respiratory condition. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep disorder, lumbar spine disability, bilateral eye conditions, gastrointestinal problems, high blood pressure, and left below knee amputation were remanded.
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