The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and lack of clarification on the rib resection surgeries. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating remains pending.
The deciding factor: The VA needs to clarify whether the 2007 and 2008 rib resections included removal of ribs from both sides, as well as obtain medical records related to thoracic outlet syndrome.
- Claimed conditions
- right and left rib resection, thoracic outlet syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 12, 2020
- Citation
- 20072891
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,886 · Granted: 24% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
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 20072891.
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 granted service connection for thoracic outlet syndrome, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began in service due to overuse of his arms during deployment.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for thoracic outlet syndrome to obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether the condition existed prior to service and, if so, whether it was aggravated by service.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted an initial 30 percent disability rating for service-connected cervical strain from February 19, 2023 to September 17, 2023 and a 40 percent disability rating for right ulnar nerve radiculopathy. The claims for service connection for pectoralis minor injury and thoracic outlet syndrome were remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for further development and consideration of additional evidence.
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