The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the underlying claims can be adjudicated on the merits. The case is REMANDED for further action.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's in-service herbicide exposure may have contributed to his metastatic progressive gastric cancer and/or esophageal cancer, but an opinion from a physician (M.D.) is needed to determine the likelihood of this relationship given the Veteran's medical history and family history. The cause of death claim will also require further development.
- Claimed conditions
- adenocarcinoma, metastatic gastric cancer
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 17, 2015
- Citation
- 1511252
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 1511252.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's cause of death was attributed to metastatic gastric cancer, which is presumed to be related to his in-service herbicide exposure. The Board found that the evidence was in equipoise regarding whether the squamous cell carcinoma (presumed due to Agent Orange exposure) contributed substantially and materially to the development of the gastric cancer.
- Granted
The Board of Veterans' Appeals has granted service connection for PTSD and Mood Disorders, both presumed conditions under the PACT Act.
- 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.
- Granted
Service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is granted. The appeal as to the issue of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction is dismissed.
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