The Board has ordered a remand for further development due to the Veteran's inability to be reached during VA examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for respiratory symptoms, which may be related to environmental exposures in Southwest Asia, including burn pits.
The deciding factor: The Veteran was unable to provide sufficient information and history regarding his respiratory symptoms during VA examinations due to COVID restrictions and contact issues.
- Claimed conditions
- respiratory symptoms
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 29, 2021
- Citation
- 21026032
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 21026032.
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 November 21, 2024 VA Form 20-0996 Request for Higher-Level Review was timely filed and the Board granted it.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records, including those from SSA.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and inadequate VA examination opinions. The Veteran is required to provide his complete military personnel and service treatment records, as well as undergo VA examinations.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's IBS and respiratory symptoms are related to service, including exposure to burn pits. The claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.
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