The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death. The Veteran died in March 2015 and was previously rated with coronary artery disease (30%) and prostate cancer (100%). Service connection is not available on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure, but the Board will consider whether it can be established on a direct basis.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's death was caused by malignant neoplasm of the esophagus. The cause of death must be determined based on the immediate cause listed on his death certificate and any contributory causes. Service connection for the cause of death cannot be established due to lack of evidence showing exposure to herbicide agents during service.
- Claimed conditions
- coronary artery disease, prostate cancer
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 13, 2019
- Citation
- 19185300
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for prostate cancer, related to in-service exposures at Camp Lejeune.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran is granted an effective date of April 25, 2014, for service connection for prostate cancer.
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