The Board has determined that additional development is required on the issues of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA). The RO should obtain medical records from Mount Sinai Hospital, obtain a VA physician's opinion regarding whether Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam caused or contributed to the veteran's death, and adjudicate the claims based on all available evidence.
The deciding factor: The Board found that additional development is needed due to incomplete information about the cause of the veteran's death and potential service connection for Agent Orange exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- Liver disease
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 24, 2008
- Citation
- 0844503
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 0844503.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for a more detailed medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran requires personal care services, supervision or protection based on symptoms or residuals of neurological or other impairment or injury, and needs regular extensive instruction or supervision.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for liver disease, erectile dysfunction and BPH, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety and depression.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for liver disease and diabetic nephropathy (claimed as chronic kidney disease) due to a lack of evidence supporting the claims. The squamous cell carcinoma claim was remanded for further review.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, which was due to liver disease. The DIC claim under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is dismissed as moot.
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