The Board is unable to determine whether the Veteran's polycythemia vera was caused by his in-service cobalt radiation therapy, and thus remands for further examination.
The deciding factor: The opinions of other examiners are unclear or conflicting, requiring clarification from a medical expert on the relationship between cobalt radiation and polycythemia vera.
- Claimed conditions
- polycythemia vera
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 15, 2018
- Citation
- 18150309
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 18150309.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for heart attack, kidney stones, polycythemia vera, diabetes mellitus type 2, and psoriasis is remanded due to inadequate VA opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that the Veteran's headaches may be related to his service-connected polycythemia vera and/or acquired psychiatric disorder, but more evidence is needed to clarify the nature and etiology of his headaches.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's polycythemia vera is caused by in-service exposure to benzene, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's polycythemia vera is granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicide agents during service.
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