The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed ulcerative colitis, including whether it was caused by or related to in-service exposure to herbicide agents and/or service-connected ischemic heart disease.
The deciding factor: The December 2015 VA medical opinion is inadequate as it did not address direct service connection nor fully address secondary service connection. The Veteran should be provided a VA examination which addresses the issue of direct causation, and provides evidence as to whether the Veteran's gastrointestinal disability is the result of his herbicide exposure or any other in-service occurrence or illness.
- Claimed conditions
- ulcerative colitis
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 11, 2018
- Citation
- 1821415
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 1821415.
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: Denied
The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a colon condition, including as caused by herbicide agent exposure or secondary to his service-connected disabilities, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection on any basis.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress and service connection for ulcerative colitis are being remanded due to the failure to obtain relevant medical records.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU was denied as the new evidence submitted did not raise a reasonable possibility of establishing his entitlement to TDIU. The Board found that the VA treatment records generated in the year following the September 2017 rating decision were cumulative or redundant and did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis and remanded the claims of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, and migraines secondary to insomnia.
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