The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and pancreatic cancer due to insufficient evidence. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is reopened, but denied on the merits. The claim for service connection for pancreatic cancer remains denied.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not provide a clear opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, specifically depression and pancreatic cancer.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression), Pancreatic cancer
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 16, 2020
- Citation
- 20026445
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 20026445.
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 has determined that the Veteran's death from pancreatic cancer may be service-connected due to environmental exposures in service, and thus remands for a medical opinion on this issue. The DIC benefits claim is also remanded.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to pancreatic cancer, finding that it was caused by herbicide agent exposure and the service-connected diabetes mellitus. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the appellant.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted effective dates for awards of SMC at various rates, with the earliest being December 13, 2023. The SMC is awarded based on his service-connected conditions and their impact on his daily life.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and a respiratory condition due to insufficient evidence. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains denied.
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