The veteran is seeking service connection for lupus, which he claims was incurred or had its onset during service due to exposure to Agent Orange. The case must be remanded for further development including a VA examination and obtaining relevant medical records.
The deciding factor: The claim requires additional evidence and an examination to determine the relationship between the veteran's lupus and his military service, specifically Agent Orange exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- lupus
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 13, 2004
- Citation
- 0401122
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 0401122.
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 sarcoidosis, which manifested to a compensable degree within one year of the Veteran's separation from service. The claims for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis were remanded for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for lupus to correct a duty to assist error related to an inadequate VA addendum opinion.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for residuals of a TBI, lupus, and OSA due to deficiencies in the medical evidence.
- Denied
The Board denied benefits for spina bifida and other covered birth defects as the Appellant does not have a diagnosis of spina bifida, and her mother is not a Vietnam Veteran.
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