The Veteran's death was caused by hemorrhagic stroke due to chronic hypertension. The appellant claims that the cause of death may have been diabetes mellitus type II, which is presumed related to Agent Orange exposure. However, service connection cannot be granted on a presumptive basis for hypertension or hemorrhagic stroke as they are not among the diseases linked to Agent Orange exposure. The Board has ordered additional development including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether diabetes mellitus caused or contributed to the Veteran's death and if his hypertension was related to Agent Orange exposure.
The deciding factor: The Board found that service connection for cause of death cannot be granted on a presumptive basis due to lack of evidence linking hypertension or hemorrhagic stroke to Agent Orange exposure. However, additional development is needed to determine whether diabetes mellitus caused or contributed to the Veteran's death and if his hypertension was related to Agent Orange exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, hemorrhagic stroke
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 20, 2013
- Citation
- 1326484
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 1326484.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
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