The RO denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to lack of service medical records and because his death occurred more than five years after discharge. The case is now remanded to reopen the claim on the basis of new and material evidence.
The deciding factor: The denial was based on insufficient evidence, specifically a lack of service medical records and the timing of the veteran's death relative to his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Hodgkin's disease, agranulocytosis
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 25, 2007
- Citation
- 0719026
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 0719026.
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 cause of death, dermal lymphoma, is presumed to be service-connected due to in-service herbicide agent exposure. Accrued benefits are denied as no claim was pending at the time of his death.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for agranulocytosis and a higher rating for tinea versicolor to correct a duty to assist error.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for Hodgkin's disease, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor. The claim for restrictive lung disease was remanded for further development.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and various increased rating claims, as well as effective date claims, while remanding the claim for service connection for Hodgkin's disease.
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