The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and non-Hodgkins lymphoma due to in-service herbicide exposure at Kadena Air Base. The VA is instructed to seek information from the JSRRC regarding whether the 603rd Military Airlift Support Squadron worked on or serviced C-123 aircraft that were known to have sprayed herbicide agents during the Veteran's service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that while the Veteran’s service records do not specify his work with the C-123 aircraft, he has alleged exposure and his AFSC is among those that make it plausible. The duty to assist requires multiple 60-day requests for information from the JSRRC.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, type II, non-Hodgkins lymphoma
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 29, 2020
- Citation
- A20016213
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 Board remands the claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus to obtain further medical opinions regarding their potential relationship to toxic exposures during active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for right foot, left elbow, left hip, left ankle, and diabetes mellitus to obtain additional medical evidence.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for cervical spine condition, diabetes mellitus, heart condition, lumbar spine condition, and urinary frequency and voiding condition as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service incurrence or aggravation.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma and remanded the claims for sinus disability, bilateral hip disability, right shoulder disability, hypertension, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, skin disability, back disability, bilateral neurological disability of the upper extremities, and bilateral neurological disability of the lower extremities.
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