The Board has ordered additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding the cause of death. The appeal is remanded to determine if service-connected conditions contributed substantially or materially to the Veteran's death.
The deciding factor: Additional evidence is needed to fully assess the cause of the Veteran's death and whether his service-connected disabilities played a substantial role in it.
- Claimed conditions
- abscess and MRSA infection, residuals of incisional hernia repair, residual scar, stage IV non-small cell cancer of the lung, bilateral lung metastases, brain metastases, extensive spinal metastases, anthracosilicosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 30, 2017
- Citation
- 1736255
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1736255.
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: Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew her appeal, and the Board dismissed all issues related to reduction in disability rating for hypothyroidism, compensable rating for residual scar, and discontinuation of SMC.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for neurostimulator removal with residual scar should be remanded due to a duty to assist error.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's recurrent epigastric hernia and associated residual scar are granted increased disability ratings of 20 percent each, effective from October 23, 2012.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for brachial cyst cancer and a residual scar due to brachial cyst cancer, both related to herbicide exposure during service. The decision is based on the presumption of exposure to Agent Orange.
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