The veteran's cause of death was listed as small cell cancer of the left tonsil. The appellant contends that his service-connected duodenal ulcer contributed to his death, but a VA medical opinion is needed to determine the extent of this contribution.
The deciding factor: A VA physician needs to provide an opinion on whether the postoperative duodenal ulcer contributed substantially or materially to the veteran's death.
- Claimed conditions
- duodenal ulcer
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 31, 2008
- Citation
- 0837615
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0837615.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including adjustment disorder, benign skin lesions, actinic keratosis, poikiloderma, porokeratosis, Parkinson's disease, benign prostatic hypertrophy, hypertension, increased urinary frequency, diverticulosis, duodenal ulcer, and bilateral cataracts are all granted due to exposure to herbicide agents, mustard gas, and ionizing radiation during service.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and duodenal ulcer have been dismissed as the appeal was made concurrently with a previously pending supplemental claim.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed stomach condition. The claim will be reconsidered with new evidence and reasoning.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance was granted, with the effective dates set at August 31, 2009.
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