The Veteran's death was caused by fungal sepsis, but the VA physician who certified his death certificate stated that his service-connected knee and shoulder injuries contributed to his death. The Board has ordered additional development including obtaining medical opinions on whether the Veteran's gastrointestinal complaints in service led to his death or significantly contributed to it.
The deciding factor: The Board requested additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his death, as well as the relationship between his gastrointestinal complaints during service and his death.
- Claimed conditions
- rectal bleeding, rectal fissure, early peptic ulcer disease (PUD), alcohol-induced gastritis, infrequent bowel movements, stomach pain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 15, 2012
- Citation
- 1239092
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1239092.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right lower peripheral neuropathy, left lower peripheral neuropathy, and stomach pain (claimed as possible prostate issue) due to new evidence received after the January 2015 rating decision.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection of hemorrhoids with rectal bleeding is remanded due to the VA's failure to obtain a medical opinion on direct service connection and as related to toxic exposure risk activities (TERA).
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The appeal concerning the disability evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected residuals of a neck strain is dismissed. The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as he does not meet the criteria under either the schedular or extraschedular standards.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not result in his inability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 19, 2019. The Board denied an earlier effective date for the TDIU.
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