The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to his death, and whether his suicide was related to his severe chronic pain.
The deciding factor: The appellant asserts that the Veteran's suicide was due to his service-connected disabilities and resulting depression from chronic pain. The Board has requested a VA medical opinion to address these claims.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic bronchitis, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, degenerative joint disease of the left ankle, degenerative joint disease of the right ankle, residuals of a left knee strain, degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, bilateral glaucoma, hypertension, hiatal hernia, benign essential tremors, degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder, degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, degenerative joint disease of the right elbow, degenerative joint disease of the left elbow, degenerative joint disease of the right wrist, degenerative joint disease of the left wrist, degenerative joint disease of the right hand and fingers, degenerative joint disease of the left hand and fingers, degenerative joint disease of the right hip, degenerative joint disease of the left hip, status post septoplasty, hemorrhoids, bilateral inguinal hernia repair with excision of left cord lipoma, thrombocytopenia, degenerative joint disease of the bilateral foot and toes, degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 19, 2015
- Citation
- 1548908
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 1548908.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of records and will provide a supplemental statement of the case if necessary.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to conflicting opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and skin disabilities related to herbicide exposure.
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