The veteran died due to bone metastasis from adenocarcinoma of unknown primary site. The appellant contends that the cause of death was related to a pulmonary mass found in his right lung during service, which he had surgically resected. The VA is requested to provide assistance in obtaining medical records and to refer the case for a medical nexus opinion.
The deciding factor: The VA needs to assist the appellant in obtaining relevant medical records and provide a medical opinion regarding the relationship between the veteran's cause of death and his service.
- Claimed conditions
- bone metastasis, adenocarcinoma of unknown primary site
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 17, 2001
- Citation
- 0113853
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 0113853.
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.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeal as it is not a final decision and does not address the issues of entitlement to restoration of a 100 percent rating for kidney neoplasm with right kidney removal and renal carcinoma with bone metastasis, or entitlement to restoration of special monthly compensation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for clarification of opinions. The claims are related as they all involve conditions that have been linked to non-small cell lung cancer.
- Denied
The Veteran's death was caused by poorly differentiated bladder carcinoma, but there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during service. The claim for service connection for the cause of death is denied.
- Denied
The Veteran's cause of death was listed as cardiac arrest due to liver cancer with bone metastasis. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service, including exposure to herbicides.
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