The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sigmoid colon cancer and bladder cancer, as well as his DIC claim due to exposure to ionizing radiation. The VA will develop evidence of possible exposure to radiation or ionizing radiation from working on ground surveillance radar equipment and obtain a dose assessment and an opinion.
The deciding factor: The Board found insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's asserted radiation exposure but noted that the diseases could possibly be radiogenic in origin, thus requiring further development.
- Claimed conditions
- sigmoid colon cancer, bladder cancer
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 11, 2019
- Citation
- 19178207
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 Board granted service connection for bladder cancer, finding it to be related to the Veteran's in-service herbicide exposure.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of December 12, 2023, for a 50 percent evaluation of bipolar disorder and remanded the other issues for further development.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's cause of death, bladder cancer, due to in-service exposure to ionizing radiation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection of bladder cancer to obtain an adequate VA TERA opinion and provide a clarifying opinion on the relationship between exposure to fuel or CARC and bladder cancer.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.