The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder/arm disability, right shoulder/arm disability, left foot/ankle disability, and right foot/ankle disability are being remanded. The examiner must consider exposure to toxins in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations as well as whether any of his claimed disabilities are unexplained illnesses or MUCMIs.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ear pain, sinusitis, lung mass, and pneumonia are being remanded. The examiner must consider whether these symptoms are related to his service in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations, including consideration of whether they are undiagnosed illnesses or MUCMIs (including fibromyalgia).,The Veteran's claims for service connection for an enlarged heart, hematochezia, and colon polyps are being remanded. The examiner must consider whether these conditions began during or are related to his active duty service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for thalassemia is being remanded. The examiner must determine if the condition is a congenital defect or disease and whether it was incurred or aggravated by service.
The deciding factor: The claims involve multiple disabilities, including TBI, shoulder/arm disabilities, foot/ankle disabilities, ear pain, sinusitis, lung mass, pneumonia, enlarged heart, hematochezia, colon polyps, and thalassemia. The Veteran's service in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations is a factor to consider.,The claims for left shoulder/arm disability, right shoulder/arm disability, left foot/ankle disability, and right foot/ankle disability involve repetitive use injuries during service and need examination to determine if they are related to service.,The claims for bilateral ear pain, sinusitis, lung mass, and pneumonia involve symptoms that may be related to service in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations. The examiner must consider whether these conditions are undiagnosed illnesses or MUCMIs (including fibromyalgia).,The claims for enlarged heart, hematochezia, and colon polyps involve examination to determine if they began during or are related to service.,The claim for thalassemia involves examination to determine whether it is a congenital defect or disease and whether it was incurred or aggravated by service.
- Claimed conditions
- Traumatic Brain Injury, Left Shoulder/Arm Disability, Right Shoulder/Arm Disability, Left Foot/Angle Disability, Right Foot/Angle Disability, Bilateral Ear Pain, Sinusitis, Lung Mass, Pneumonia, Enlarged Heart, Hematochezia (Blood in the Stool), Colon Polyps, Thalassemia
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 20, 2021
- Citation
- 21075551
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 21075551.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial ratings for anxiety disorder and TBI were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Granted
The Board granted entitlement to SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(t) effective January 21, 2019, based on the appellant's need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected TBI.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected traumatic brain injury is being remanded due to a procedural error.
- Granted
The Veteran's sinusitis is currently rated at a noncompensable evaluation. The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for sinusitis as of February 19, 2021, based on the number and duration of incapacitating episodes requiring antibiotic treatment.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.