The Board has decided that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's left kidney nephrectomy is related to his service, including presumed exposure to Agent Orange. The case will be returned for further action.
The deciding factor: The VA clinician needs to provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s left kidney nephrectomy was incurred in service or is otherwise causally related to his active service or any incident therein, including presumed Agent Orange exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- left kidney nephrectomy
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 12, 2018
- Citation
- 18118307
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 18118307.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's increased rating claims and entitlement to a TDIU are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors, including the need for additional examinations and evidence.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection for left kidney nephrectomy, hypertension (to include as secondary to left kidney nephrectomy), an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include adjustment disorder, depression, and anxiety) as secondary to left kidney nephrectomy, and erectile dysfunction have all been denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's heart disorder and penile deformity with erectile dysfunction were granted service connection. The rating for the penile condition was restored to 20%. Special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance and due to loss of use of a kidney was also granted.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected duodenal ulcers and left kidney nephrectomy do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.
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