The Board has determined that further development is needed in both the accrued benefits and service connection for cause of death claims. The accrued benefits claim will be adjudicated on its merits, while the service connection for cause of death claim requires an opinion regarding whether the glioblastoma causing the Veteran's death was related to his service-connected prostate cancer or radiation treatment.
The deciding factor: The Board found that a VA oncologist should provide opinions addressing the relationship between the Veteran's glioblastoma and his service-connected prostate cancer, including any radiation treatment for prostate cancer. The accrued benefits claim will be adjudicated on its merits as it was filed before the expiration of the appeal period.
- Claimed conditions
- glioblastoma, prostate cancer
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 18, 2014
- Citation
- 1427572
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 1427572.
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 Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, visual impairment, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran's claims were not granted.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, bone cancer, and lymph node cancer has been granted. The prostate cancer is presumed due to herbicide agent exposure during service at RTAFB Takhli. Bone cancer is secondary to the service-connected prostate cancer. Lymph node cancer is also considered secondary to prostate cancer.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, right lower extremity peripheral artery disease, left lower extremity peripheral artery disease, and hypertension as the evidence did not establish an in-service event or exposure to herbicide agents.
- Granted
The Veteran's cause of death, glioblastoma, is determined to be due to his in-service herbicide exposure (Agent Orange). The Board granted service connection for the cause of death.
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