The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's Crohn's disease, which contributed to his death, was related to his exposure to Agent Orange during service.
The deciding factor: The cause of death is believed to be bacterial endocarditis and its complications, but there is uncertainty about the relationship between the Veteran’s Crohn's disease and his exposure to herbicide agents in service.
- Claimed conditions
- Bacterial endocarditis, Cardiac valve dysfunction, Crohn's disease
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 20, 2019
- Citation
- 19195708
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 19195708.
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 service connection for Crohn's disease to correct duty to assist errors.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for an adequate addendum opinion that addresses the June 2021 private medical opinion regarding the Veteran's symptoms related to his service-connected conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection of Crohn's disease to obtain a medical opinion regarding its etiology in relation to the Veteran's Gulf War service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for Crohn's disease for a new VA examination to address outstanding questions of nexus.
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