The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder, hip, and elbow disorders due to potential exposure to toxic substances during military service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. A VA examiner is needed to provide an opinion on whether these conditions are related to this exposure.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service includes a confirmed exposure risk activity that may be considered under the PACT Act, and thus requires further medical evaluation to determine if there is a nexus between the disabilities and the toxic exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral shoulder disorder, bilateral hip disorder, bilateral elbow disorder
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 31, 2023
- Citation
- 23048188
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 23048188.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for a VA examination and medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's low back disorder and bilateral hip disorder are related to his service-connected Crohn's disease.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral elbow disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and residuals of a neck injury have been granted. The claim for sleep apnea has been withdrawn.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hip disorders due to a lack of current diagnoses in the medical records.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that a remand is needed to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hip disorder and whether it is related to his service-connected right knee disabilities.
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