The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected condition, and the Board has decided to remand for further evaluation of whether his service-connected conditions contributed to his cause of death.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s cause of death (respiratory failure) is not directly linked to any service-connected disability. The Board will seek additional medical opinion on whether hospitalization due to service-connected disabilities contributed to the Veteran's death.
- Claimed conditions
- back, lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 13, 2020
- Citation
- 20012018
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20012018.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran is granted an effective date of December 10, 2015 for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA). The decision also grants earlier effective dates for these benefits.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected neck, back, and migraines required care or assistance from his wife on a regular basis to protect him from hazards in his daily environment.
- Whole decision: Granted
Service connection for left and right knee disabilities is granted.,An earlier effective date of April 29, 2010, but no earlier, for service connection for a back disability (lumbosacral and thoracic strain) is granted.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The claims seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for left foot and bladder disabilities, as well as service connection for tinnitus, are dismissed due to lack of new and relevant evidence. The claim seeking service connection for bilateral knee disabilities is readjudicated.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.