The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, residuals of a cerebrovascular accident, and acute venous embolism and thrombosis of the deep vessels of the right lower extremity are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his exposure to Agent Orange during service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service records do not indicate any in-service diagnosis or treatment related to these conditions, but VA treatment records show current diagnoses. The Board finds it necessary to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents (Agent Orange) while serving aboard the USS Dubuque and to obtain relevant medical records.
- Claimed conditions
- Depression, Residuals of a cerebrovascular accident, Acute venous embolism and thrombosis of the deep vessels of the right lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 31, 2020
- Citation
- 20008313
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple myeloma, back disability (secondary to multiple myeloma), and depression, with an effective date of January 26, 2021. The decision also remanded claims related to breast cancer, DEA benefits, and initial ratings.
- Denied
The veteran's bad conduct discharge precludes eligibility for VA benefits, including compensation and healthcare.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and personality disorder, due to the need for further development of the record.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the death of the Appellant during its pendency.
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