The Board has decided to remand the case due to unresolved issues regarding the Veteran's post-surgical complications and their relation to VA treatment. The case will be reviewed by a non-VA medical expert to provide an opinion on whether the surgeries caused or contributed to the identified rectal disabilities.
The deciding factor: The decision is based on unresolved issues regarding the foreseeability of complications from the April 2011 surgery and their relation to VA treatment, requiring further review by a non-VA medical expert.
- Claimed conditions
- abscess, fistula
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 25, 2024
- Citation
- 24017777
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 24017777.
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 remands the claim for an additional VA examination to determine if the Veteran has additional disability due to a December 2012 surgery and whether such disability was caused by fault on the part of VA.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a dental disability for compensation purposes because there was no evidence of loss of substance in the upper or lower jaw, and the Veteran had an abscess and replaceable missing teeth.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran is seeking compensation for additional penile disabilities allegedly caused by an unauthorized surgery in December 2012. The Board has determined that the case requires further development to address consent and scope of procedures performed during the surgery.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's bowel disability is being remanded due to a lack of informed consent documentation for the colonoscopy procedure. The Board will review whether VA's care caused additional disability and provide an updated decision.
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