The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for CAD and DM type II, as well as a stroke secondary to CAD, due to potential exposure to Agent Orange during service aboard USS Ranger and USS Enterprise. The RO is instructed to verify the Veteran's alleged exposure within the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of Vietnam.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's alleged exposure to Agent Orange during his service aboard USS Ranger and USS Enterprise, particularly concerning whether he or crewmembers were sent ashore for aircraft repairs. The RO is tasked with obtaining this information from appropriate repositories.
- Claimed conditions
- coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes mellitus (DM) type II, stroke
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 30, 2020
- Citation
- 20008212
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for left foot bursitis and coronary artery disease, as well as special monthly compensation based on housebound status.
- Partly granted
The Board granted restoration of a 60 percent rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) effective June 1, 2021, and increased ratings for mid-sternum scar, left lower extremity (LLE) scar, and migraines to 10%, 20%, and 50% respectively, all effective October 26, 2020.
- Partly granted
The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied, except for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability which were granted. The veteran was also granted service connection for hypertension.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for the AOJ to provide the Veteran with notice concerning his right to a hearing on a supplemental claim in accordance with 38 C.F.R. § 3.103(b)(1) and (d)(1).
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