The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's post-operative residuals of rhinoplasty, including chronic infections, nasal deformity, nasal airway obstruction, and loss of cartilage, are caused by VA treatment/surgery, specifically a retained suture in his nose during the June 2013 surgery. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the January 2022 VA medical opinion did not substantially comply with the September 2019 remand directives, particularly regarding whether the Veteran's additional disabilities were caused by a retained suture in his nose during the June 2013 surgery and if it was due to carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on part of VA.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic infections, nasal deformity, nasal airway obstruction, loss of cartilage
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 25, 2022
- Citation
- 22030975
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 22030975.
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 has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed ear conditions, including vertigo.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for left hip, back, and right knee disabilities. The conditions are deemed to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a disability manifested by chronic infections, finding no current diagnosis of such condition and concluding that there is not sufficient evidence to establish a causal relationship with service or any service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his finally adjudicated claim for service connection of septoplasty and residuals. The issue of service connection for residuals of septoplasty is remanded due to insufficient medical evidence addressing the Veteran's contention of in-service onset and environmental irritants.
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