The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's death and whether his service-connected disabilities contributed to or hastened his death. The appellant claims that her husband was exposed to herbicides during service, had complications from his service-connected conditions, and did not have active cancers prior to his death.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that a medical opinion is necessary to determine the cause of the Veteran's death and whether his service-connected disabilities contributed to or hastened his death.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension associated with diabetes mellitus, type II, coronary artery disease, status post coronary artery bypass graft, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity associated with diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity associated with diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity associated with diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity associated with diabetes mellitus, type II, scars, status post coronary artery bypass graft associated with coronary artery disease, status post coronary artery bypass graft, erectile dysfunction associated with diabetes mellitus, type II, colon cancer, renal cancer
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 11, 2015
- Citation
- 1534278
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 1534278.
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 withdrew his appeal regarding the claims for sleep apnea and an increased disability rating for diabetes mellitus, type II.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The decision finds that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is proximately due to his service-connected PTSD.
- Granted
The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted on a secondary basis with obesity serving as an intermediate step due to service-connected low back disability, sciatica, and right shoulder disabilities.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and left arm tremors. Service connection for right hand tremors is also granted. The Veteran's tinnitus claim was denied as there is no current diagnosis of tinnitus.
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