The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a back condition, basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, hypothyroidism, and a stomach condition (GERD), all potentially related to herbicide exposure. The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to herbicides during his service in Vietnam.
The deciding factor: The claims are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding the etiology of the claimed conditions, particularly their relationship to herbicide exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- back condition, osteoporosis, basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, hypothyroidism, stomach condition (GERD)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 26, 2018
- Citation
- 18138642
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 18138642.
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 initial compensable evaluation for hypothyroidism is denied, and the Board finds that service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease and bilateral foot condition should be remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, including degenerative disc disease and scoliosis, due to lack of current disability evidence.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hypothyroidism and therefore denied their claim for service connection.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his request.,Service connection for a back condition is denied as there is no evidence that the condition began during service or is related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.
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