The Veteran's death was caused by myocardial infarction and hypertension, but the appellant argues that his service-connected disabilities contributed to his death. The Board finds a need for additional medical opinions.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not address the appellant’s contention that the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities resulted in decreased mobility and obesity, which caused or contributed to his death.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of frostbite of the feet and hands, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 10, 2019
- Citation
- 19102664
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.
- Granted
The Veteran was granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance from July 28, 2023, through September 21, 2024.
- Partly granted
The veteran's appeal for TDIU was granted for the period before April 6, 2024, but not after due to a combined 100 percent rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for SMC due to the need for regular aid and attendance is remanded as there are insufficient medical records to determine his current level of impairment from service-connected peripheral neuropathy, which could affect his eligibility for SMC.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, respiratory disorders, sleep apnea, poor circulation, chronic infections, Bell's Palsy, Dupuytren’s Contracture, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, cataracts, erectile dysfunction, a skin disorder, and plantar fasciitis, all claimed as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The claims are remanded for additional development including VA examinations.
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