The Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence to decide the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death. The appellant and her representative are requested to provide any additional medical records, specifically those from the veteran's final hospitalization, and a VA medical opinion will be obtained to determine if prostate cancer or Agent Orange exposure contributed to the cause of death.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that there is insufficient evidence in the claims file to decide whether the veteran's service-connected prostate cancer or Agent Orange exposure caused his death. The appellant has provided testimony and a VA physician's opinion suggesting a possible connection, but additional medical records are needed for a comprehensive evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- Prostate cancer, Kidney failure
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 3, 2008
- Citation
- 0800189
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 0800189.
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 arteriosclerotic heart disease is rated at 100% effective October 25, 2024. His prostate cancer residuals are rated at 60% effective October 25, 2024.
- Granted
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and prostate cancer are granted service connection, with the latter requiring a VA examination to address exposure to burn pits.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss in the right ear has been denied. The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of right ear hearing loss and thus, cannot establish a link to service. For prostate cancer, the Veteran's claim is remanded as VA did not provide an opinion regarding whether his condition may be related to service due to toxic exposure.
- Denied
The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals prior to January 5, 2026 are rated at 10 percent. From January 5, 2026, the Veteran is granted a 20 percent rating for his prostate cancer residuals. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is not compensable.
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