The Veteran's gastrointestinal disability appeal is dismissed. The claims of service connection for renal failure, non-specific monoclonal gammopathy, interstitial pneumonitis, and hypertension are reopened due to receipt of new and material evidence. Service connection for heart disease remains inextricably intertwined with the renal disease claim.
The deciding factor: New and material evidence has been received that relates the Veteran's current disabilities (renal failure, non-specific monoclonal gammopathy, interstitial pneumonitis, hypertension) to his service exposure to Agent Orange. The claims for these conditions are therefore reopened.
- Claimed conditions
- Gastrointestinal disability, Renal failure and underlying glomerulonephritis, Non-specific monoclonal gammopathy, Interstitial pneumonitis, Hypertension, Right and left knee disabilities, with degenerative joint disease, Heart disease
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 11, 2014
- Citation
- 1431200
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 1431200.
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 the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service or herbicide exposure.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and has remanded the issue of an increased rating for skin condition.
- Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's 10% rating for hypertension effective December 1, 2025 and denied a rating in excess of 10%. The reduction from 10% to noncompensable was not proper.
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