The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development and evidence, specifically a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected residuals of subtotal gastrectomy was a principal or contributory cause of his death.
The deciding factor: The immediate cause of death was metastatic carcinoma. The examiner is asked to provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s service-connected residuals of subtotal gastrectomy was a principal (primary) or contributory (contributed materially or substantially) cause of his death.
- Claimed conditions
- metastatic carcinoma, pulmonary embolus, renal failure
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 27, 2019
- Citation
- 19150538
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 claim for a VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including medications taken therefor, were a substantial or contributing factor in his death.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including renal failure, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, blackout spells, swelling of the eyelids, diminished eyesight, sleep deprivation, and bladder incontinence. The Board also denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for left ankle tendonitis associated with residual scar.
- Dismissed
The appeal regarding service connection for renal failure was dismissed because the claim was fully granted by a VA rating decision, which resulted in the Veteran being awarded service connection for kidney transplant status-post acute renal failure.
- Dismissed
The appeal regarding service connection for renal failure was dismissed because the claim was fully granted by a VA rating decision, which resulted in the Veteran being awarded service connection for kidney transplant status-post acute renal failure.
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