The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for multiple myeloma, including as due to herbicide agent exposure at Fort McClellan. The AOJ must undertake specific development steps and obtain a medical opinion on whether the Veteran's multiple myeloma is related to his alleged exposure to environmental toxins at Fort McClellan.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's herbicide agent exposure, necessitating further investigation by VA through the JSRRC and DOD inventory review process.
- Claimed conditions
- multiple myeloma, residual moderate right brachial plexopathy, myocardial infarction, painful scar from CABG, lineal and non-lineal surgical scars
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 16, 2019
- Citation
- 19171492
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 19171492.
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 Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 100 percent for service-connected multiple myeloma has been denied. The Board also remanded two issues related to nerve neuropathies, and the claims for TDIU and SMC have been denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction is granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty in Korea.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for coronary artery disease and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The decision is pending further action as private treatment records are needed.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for multiple myeloma, finding that the evidence is in equipoise and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the appellant.
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