The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning regarding a possible link between in-service asbestos exposure and the Veteran's later development of an autoimmune disease resulting in his thyroid disability.
The deciding factor: No VA examiner has adequately opined as to whether the Veteran’s conceded in-service exposure to asbestos is at least as likely as not responsible for the Veteran’s later development of the autoimmune disease resulting in the thyroid disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Thyroid disability, Autoimmune disease
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 4, 2018
- Citation
- 18107720
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 18107720.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a thyroid disability, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a thyroid disability and hypertension, as the Veteran's assertions regarding these conditions are not fully addressed in the current evidence.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD with insomnia due to MST and service connection for a thyroid disability, which led to their dismissal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a thyroid disability and fatigue disability, including as secondary to a thyroid disability due to potential errors in pre-decisional duty to assist. The Veteran's exposure during service is unclear, and further development is needed.
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