The Veteran's claim for service connection for polycythemia vera has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is being remanded for further action, including verification of service within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam or entering port in Vietnam, and a VA examination to determine if polycythemia vera is related to service, particularly exposure to herbicide agents.
The deciding factor: The claim was reopened due to the submission of new evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the underlying claim (the relationship between polycythemia vera and service, including herbicide agent exposure).
- Claimed conditions
- polycythemia vera
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20007056
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 polycythemia vera, finding a nexus to in-service herbicide agent exposure.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for additional development, including verifying the Veteran's claimed exposure to ionizing radiation and providing a new medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted an initial 60 percent evaluation for polycythemia vera, as the Veteran was prescribed molecularly targeted therapy to control red blood cell count.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for polycythemia vera to obtain additional records from the Veteran's community care provider.
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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.