The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Parkinson’s disease, coronary artery disease (claimed as heart disease), and lung disease due to herbicide exposure. The AOJ is instructed to determine if the Veteran served within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam and verify any claimed asbestos exposure in service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that additional development was needed regarding the Veteran's service connection claims for Parkinson’s disease, coronary artery disease (claimed as heart disease), and lung disease due to herbicide exposure. Specifically, the AOJ is instructed to determine if the Veteran served within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam and verify any claimed asbestos exposure in service.
- Claimed conditions
- Parkinson’s disease, coronary artery disease (claimed as heart disease), lung disease
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 25, 2020
- Citation
- 20014472
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 20014472.
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.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the claims for increased ratings for lung disease and residuals of esophageal cancer as moot because the Veteran was already in receipt of the highest possible ratings for these conditions, which are in effect for the entirety of the appeal period. The claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) at a higher level based on need for aid and assistance due to the Veteran's condition prior to his passing is granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including COPD and emphysema, is being remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The Board finds that the evidence submitted tends to disprove a link between his current condition and active service.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's lung disease is granted as service-connected due to asbestos exposure during service. The Veteran's coronary artery disease claim is remanded for further evaluation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's death was caused by radiation, but the cause of his hematuria and prostate cancer is under review. The Board finds that VA did not obtain a proper medical opinion regarding the relationship between in-service asbestos exposure and the Veteran's death.
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