The Veteran is seeking service connection for diabetes mellitus, heart disorder, and back disorder. The Board finds there are issues regarding exposure to herbicides but the required evidentiary development procedures have not been followed. Additional medical records are needed and a supplemental opinion on whether congenital lumbar stenosis was aggravated by superimposed disease or injury is also needed.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claims for service connection were remanded due to incomplete evidence regarding his exposure to herbicides during service, specifically in Thailand and Okinawa. A supplemental medical opinion is required to determine if the Veteran's congenital lumbar stenosis was aggravated by a superimposed disease or injury.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, type II, heart disorder, status post bypass surgery, back disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 30, 2011
- Citation
- 1124808
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 1124808.
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 due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing proper notice regarding secondary service connection.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims for sleep apnea and an increased disability rating for diabetes mellitus, type II.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The decision finds that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is proximately due to his service-connected PTSD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disorder, high blood pressure, and type II diabetes mellitus due to errors in development of the claim.
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