The Board remands the claims for an initial compensable rating for rhinitis and service connection for chest pain, shortness of breath with cough and swelling, sinusitis, and headaches due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
The deciding factor: A pre-decisional duty to assist error was committed as VA failed to contact the Veteran regarding his new address after he relocated, leading to missed examinations for rhinitis, chest pain, shortness of breath with cough and swelling, and headaches. A remand is necessary to correct this error.
- Claimed conditions
- rhinitis, chest pain, shortness of breath with cough and swelling, sinusitis, headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 8, 2025
- Citation
- A25058187
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma and remanded claims for insomnia and sleep apnea. Other conditions were denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Partly granted
The Board granted higher ratings for the Veteran's service-connected carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome of both upper extremities, but remanded claims for service connection for sinusitis, calcified lymph nodes on the lungs, and cervical strain.
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