The Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to a metastatic neuroendocrine tumor, and remands the case for further development including obtaining an independent medical opinion.
The deciding factor: The Board found that while Agent Orange exposure may not be presumed related to the Veteran’s cancer, there is insufficient evidence to determine whether service connection can still be granted based on other possible links to his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- metastatic neuroendocrine tumor
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 17, 2019
- Citation
- 19155262
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19155262.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death and denied DIC benefits under Section 1318. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a finding that the Veteran’s service-connected conditions caused or contributed to his cancer, which resulted in his death.
- Granted
The Veteran's cause of death, metastatic neuroendocrine tumor, is found to be related to his presumed in-service exposure to herbicides (Agent Orange). Service connection for the cause of death is granted.
- Denied
The Board found that the cause of the Veteran's death, carcinoid, was not related to his service or any service-connected disability. The Board also determined there was no evidence linking the gastrointestinal symptoms he experienced during service to his later diagnosed pancreatic cancer.
- Granted
The Board of Veterans' Appeals has granted service connection for PTSD and Mood Disorders, both presumed conditions under the PACT Act.
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