The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and the need for aid and attendance or housebound status.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner is needed to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's COPD is related to service, including exposure to herbicides (Agent Orange), and if he had undiagnosed lung cancer that caused his death.
- Claimed conditions
- progressive respiratory insufficiency, polymicrobial pneumonia, end stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 7, 2017
- Citation
- 1737465
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 1737465.
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 Veteran's cause of death is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Orange, during service in Korea. The Board found that the Veteran served near the DMZ and was exposed to herbicides, leading to a presumption of service connection for his Parkinson's disease. As a result, the claim for dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is dismissed.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's death was caused by end stage COPD due to diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board found that the service-connected diabetes mellitus and non-service-connected COPD contributed to the cause of death.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's death was caused by end stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which the VA has determined was aggravated by his service-connected gastritis. The Board is remanding the case for further development regarding the service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and mood disorder, as secondary to service-connected gastritis.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has ordered additional development to obtain the Veteran's death certificate and medical records, including from his primary care physician. The expert opinion requested will address whether the Veteran's cold injury residuals could have caused or contributed to his cause of death.
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