The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), diabetes mellitus, multiple myeloma, ischemic heart disease, and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus, which he contends is related to herbicide exposure. The Board notes that while there is no evidence of in-country service in Vietnam, the Veteran served in Korea during a period when herbicides were used along the DMZ. Further verification of his claimed exposure is needed.,The Veteran seeks service connection for multiple myeloma, which he contends is related to herbicide exposure. The Board notes that while there is no evidence of in-country service in Vietnam, the Veteran served in Korea during a period when herbicides were used along the DMZ. Further verification of his claimed exposure is needed.,The Veteran seeks service connection for ischemic heart disease, which he contends is related to herbicide exposure. The Board notes that while there is no evidence of in-country service in Vietnam, the Veteran served in Korea during a period when herbicides were used along the DMZ. Further verification of his claimed exposure is needed.,The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertension, which he contends is secondary to diabetes mellitus. The Board notes that while there is no evidence of in-country service in Vietnam, the Veteran served in Korea during a period when herbicides were used along the DMZ. Further verification of his claimed exposure is needed.
The deciding factor: The need for additional development due to incomplete information regarding the nature and extent of the Veteran's service.,The need for further verification of the Veteran's alleged exposure to herbicide agents in Korea, as there are no records indicating such exposure.,The need for further verification of the Veteran's alleged exposure to herbicide agents in Korea, as there are no records indicating such exposure.,The need for further verification of the Veteran's alleged exposure to herbicide agents in Korea, as there are no records indicating such exposure.,The need for further verification of the Veteran's alleged exposure to herbicide agents in Korea, as there are no records indicating such exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), Diabetes mellitus, Multiple myeloma, Ischemic heart disease, Hypertension
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 11, 2020
- Citation
- 20011482
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 20011482.
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 Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 30 percent prior to July 18, 2014, and a higher than 60 percent rating thereafter for ischemic heart disease is being remanded due to incomplete evidence. The examiner needs to provide more detailed information about the severity of his service-connected condition.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service or herbicide exposure.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to insufficient evidence of record. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if his conditions are related to service.
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