The Board has remanded the case to the AOJ for additional development due to a need for an updated list of doctors and health care facilities that have treated the Veteran's MDS, as well as for an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that his MDS had its clinical onset during active service or is etiologically related to his active service, specifically including his presumed exposure to Agent Orange based on his Vietnam service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner relied solely on the fact that the Veteran's MDS is not on the presumptive list of diseases associated with herbicide exposure. The case has been remanded for an additional opinion considering the Veteran's personal circumstances and other medical evidence or research to make the assertion that herbicides and MDS are not connected.
- Claimed conditions
- myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 2, 2016
- Citation
- 1617527
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1617527.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) due to presumed exposure to environmental hazards during military service, specifically burn pits. The Veteran's MDS is considered presumptively related to his Gulf War service.
- Whole decision: Granted
Service connection for MDS is granted, and a higher initial disability rating of 40 percent for the service-connected back disability is also granted. Other issues on appeal are resolved in favor of the appellant.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents, and thus service connection for MDS is granted.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.
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