The Veteran's appeal for special home adaptations (SHA) eligibility is being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error regarding the etiology of his pulmonary sarcoidosis. The Board will request an opinion from a clinician to determine if the condition qualifies as an 'inhalation injury' and whether it was caused by inhaled toxins during service in Saudi Arabia.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's pulmonary sarcoidosis is not considered an 'inhalation injury,' which could affect his eligibility for special home adaptations (SHA).
- Claimed conditions
- pulmonary sarcoidosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 30, 2024
- Citation
- A24086571
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 A24086571.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted. The initial rating of 10 percent, but not higher, has been assigned for pulmonary sarcoidosis. Service connection has also been established for migraine headaches, degenerative arthritis in the left knee, right knee disorder (osteoarthritis), right ankle sprain, right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, bilateral flat feet, and various foot conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in obtaining necessary medical records and conducting a proper examination. The Veteran's respiratory disability, including pulmonary sarcoidosis, is being reviewed again.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding private treatment records and clarification of the diagnosis for the Veteran's sarcoidosis. Additionally, new medical opinions are needed.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeal of the Veteran's claim for service connection for pulmonary sarcoidosis due to a procedural issue, as she opted into the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) system via her Decision Review Request: Higher-Level Review.
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