The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a supplemental opinion from Dr. S.L. or another provider regarding herbicide exposure.
The deciding factor: VA is requesting clarification on whether a competent medical opinion can be offered that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during service given his current disabilities and lack of other risk factors for the conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, type II (diabetes), skin cancer (melanoma), renal cancer, malignant neoplasm of the bladder (bladder cancer), erectile dysfunction due to diabetes, right lower extremity neuropathy, left lower extremity neuropathy, gall bladder removal
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 11, 2018
- Citation
- 1802088
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 1802088.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board grants service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus began during his period of active duty service. The claims for ischemic heart disease, aortic valve replacement, status post aortic stenosis, and peripheral vascular disease with popliteal aneurysm are remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus to obtain further medical opinions regarding their potential relationship to toxic exposures during active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and bilateral knee strain to obtain additional medical opinions.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for hypertension, atherosclerosis, and diabetes mellitus; granted service connection for erectile dysfunction and skin cancer; and restored the 10 percent rating for hypertension.
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