The Veteran's death is being remanded to determine if his service-connected conditions were a contributing cause of death. The issue of DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 remains pending.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner failed to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities, including status post resection of the left second rib and lung herniation, were a contributing cause of death.
- Claimed conditions
- Status post resection of the left second rib, lung herniation
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 29, 2020
- Citation
- 20007708
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 obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for myasthenia gravis based on the Veteran's exposure to hazardous substances during his military service.
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