The Veteran's death was caused by hepatic failure and cryptogenic cirrhosis, which the appellant claims were due to mustard gas exposure during service. The VA has not verified this exposure but is required to complete further development as per M21-1MR guidelines.
The deciding factor: VA failed to verify the Veteran's alleged mustard gas exposure during service.
- Claimed conditions
- hepatic failure, cryptogenic cirrhosis
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 31, 2013
- Citation
- 1324262
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 1324262.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's cause of death was not caused by a disability incurred or aggravated in service, and the Board denied the claim for service connection.
- Granted
The Veteran's cause of death was respiratory failure caused by hepatic failure, hepatocellular cancer, and chronic hepatitis C infection.,Service connection for the cause of death is granted as his alcohol and substance abuse were secondary to his service-connected PTSD.
- Granted
The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connected. The liver disability claim is remanded for further development and opinion.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to insufficient evidence and a need for additional medical opinions. The Appellant requested to withdraw other claims, which have been dismissed.
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