The Veteran's cause of death was listed as complications of pneumonia. The appellant contends that the Veteran’s service-connected atherosclerotic heart disease with coronary occlusion and herbicide exposure during service in Vietnam caused his fatal complications of pneumonia. The Board finds that opinions should be obtained on remand regarding whether these conditions contributed to his death.
The deciding factor: The cause of death is not directly related to the Veteran's service-connected atherosclerotic heart disease with coronary occlusion or herbicide exposure, but further medical opinion is needed to determine if they contributed substantially to his death.
- Claimed conditions
- Pneumonia, Atherosclerotic heart disease with coronary occlusion
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 24, 2019
- Citation
- 19149202
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 Board remands the case to obtain an adequate opinion regarding the Veteran's cause of death, specifically addressing toxic exposures during service and submitted medical literature.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a VA examination to address all respiratory disabilities found or shown during the appeal period and to determine their relationship to service, including exposure to toxic or environmental hazards.
- Granted
The Board granted compensation pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for the cause of the Veteran's death, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the appellant.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, pneumonia, and a right ankle condition due to a pre-decision duty to assist error.
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