The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are being reviewed to determine if they caused or contributed to his cause of death, which was terminal lymphoma. The Board has ordered a VA opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's cause of death.
The deciding factor: The Board is seeking clarification on whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions prevented an early diagnosis and treatment for his terminal lymphoma.
- Claimed conditions
- posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), lumbar spine spondylosis with multiple shrapnel wounds and degenerative disc changes, right thigh scar, residuals of a gunshot wound to the abdomen with retained foreign body, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, ulnar motor neuropathy of the left wrist and hand, chronic adhesive pleurisy, scars of the right buttock, left heel, back, left ulnar, and right forearm, bilateral hearing loss, residuals of a shell fragment wound of the anterior trunk and abdomen
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 21, 2014
- Citation
- 1411925
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 1411925.
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.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
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